Down and out with Dregs and Giro
Matthew Collin finds bitter comedy in Stuart, the life of a homeless man told by charity worker Alexander Masters.
The strange case of RL Stevenson
From Edinburgh to the South Seas ... James Buchan follows Claire Harman on the trail of literary lion Robert Louis Stevenson.
Fantastic voyage
Elizabeth Harlan draws a portrait of a damaged family in her biography of George Sand, but leaves many questions unanswered, says Lucasta Miller.
Above the law
Martin Jacques salutes Lawless World, a clear and readable account of how America turned its back on international law from Philippe Sands.
Looted ancient book must be sent back to Italy
12th century missal found its way from a cathedral to the British Library. Now its return may mean a law change.
Who’s up for an Arthur?
Candidates for the first ever Sir Arthur C Clarke awards (to be known as Arthurs) now include Beagle 2's Colin Pillinger and the Huygens scientist John Zarnecki.
Niebelung kebab
John Man's biography of Attila the Hun leaves Ranjit Bolt feeling faint.
The cutting edge
PD Smith enjoys Wendy Moore's The Knife Man, a gruesome but fascinating biography of one of Britain's great surgeons.
At £7,500 for the set, you’d think they’d get their facts right
Throwing the book at the Dictionary of National Biography.
1.2m pupils ‘unable to read properly’
More than a million children have been failed by Labour's national literacy strategy, which has left them unable to meet basic standards of English, according to a new report out today.
Churchill sequel provides epic task for author
Historian will add a fifth volume to the wartime leader's narrative - and vows to put facts before polemic.