The crowned head

Simon Callow admires Terry Coleman's workmanlike life of Laurence Olivier, but feels the actor's heart has been left out.

Lost in music

Charles R Cross reveals the reality of Jimi Hendrix's life in his groundbreaking biography of rock's greatest guitarist, Room Full of Mirrors, says David Sinclair.

Sybil Marshall

· A great educationist, her career spanned a one-room school, universities and best-selling novels.

Online library banks on urge to lend

Bookworms are being invited to join what is described as the world's first online cooperative library, My Book Your Book, which was launched last night.

How a novelist’s twist sparked academic feud

When the feted author of Birdsong slipped a recent psychiatric idea into his work, one don saw red. Vanessa Thorpe reports.

Archer & Archer

Margaret Crick tries to explain Mary Archer's attraction to Jeffrey in a biography her subject tried to block. Why should anyone care, asks Catherine Bennett.

J’accuse

It's a dispute that involves just about every emotive issue you can think of - Israel, Palestine, human rights, freedom of speech. Gary Younge dissects the academic battle that has gripped America.

Research reveals spiritual journey of Tolkien fans

Tolkien fans do not just watch the films and reread the books - they are on a spiritual journey and doing their best to forget the ending, says a study.