42 and all that
It has taken over a quarter of a century. But Douglas Adams' classic sci-fi comedy adventure has finally made it to the big screen. Xan Brooks on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's interminable journey.
The white stuff
Celebrated documentary-maker Angus Macqueen spent 18 months on the cocaine trail across Latin America from the dirt-poor valleys of Peru to the shanty towns of Rio. Here he recalls the journey that revolutionised his views and explains why he believes 'the dandruff of the Andes' should be sold in Boots.
From Grange Hill to the valleys
She used to play the school goody-goody on television, but now Amma Asante has made a powerful first film about racism in Wales - without a single black character in it. She talks to Bonnie Greer.
‘We can always touch the hem of the great one’s skirt later’
Dame Muriel Spark, mistress of ambivalent irony, thrilled her fans with a rare public appearance at the book festival in Edinburgh, the city she still calls home, despite having lived in Italy for years.
Inside the mind of a terrorist
On the eve of the third anniversary of 9/11, a compelling new film goes inside al-Qaeda's Hamburg cell, the group of Islamic radicals who changed the world with their ruthless suicide attacks. Ronan Bennett, who wrote the film, explains what drove them to martyrdom.
50 pages of new novel are stolen
Louis De Bernières, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, has lost 50 pages of his next book by leaving them on a laptop computer and going to the Edinburgh festival.
Evil genius
Paul Claudel was a misogynist, an anti-semite and an Islamophobe. He was also regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest dramatists. By Tim Ashley.
Poet’s corner
Each day this week we will publish a specially commissioned song or poem from a leading festival talent. Today it is the turn of Tina C, who is launching her bid to be president of the US in the 2008 elections at this year's festival. Tina says: "This is my hymn to Edinburgh, taking the tune of one of my favourite patriotic American songs, My Country 'Tis of Thee."
Otis Lee Crenshaw
Each day this week we will publish a specially commissioned song or poem from a leading festival talent. Today it is the turn of Rich Hall's comic ex-country singer, Otis Lee Crenshaw.
Gary le Strange’s G2 Song
Each day this week we will publish a specially commissioned song or poem from a leading festival talent. Today, it is Gary le Strange's 'G2 song'.
Harold Pinter is famous
What are people queuing at the Fringe box office buying tickets for?