Beloved aunts, Defoe on plague panic and farewell to Fiona MacCarthy

Continuing our new series, our writer reflects on the style and stoicism of her late aunts

Noughts & Crosses author hits back at race-bait claims

Malorie Blackman responds on Twitter after Daily Mail critic calls drama ‘less a TV show than a political statement’

The illustrator and Observer political cartoonist talks of his mentor – and his first crush – on Desert Island Discs

The Ready Steady Cook fully deserves his MBE

During the final weeks of his life, the Narnia author wrote to a US academic about his struggle with grief and theology

Dead Ringers impressionist takes lead role in stage version of bestselling book on British identity

After the Scottish Poetry Library aired concerns over ‘escalating disharmony’, campaigners have questioned its respect for trans writers

After an eight-year gap and more pre-orders than Atwood, readers are excited to get hold of new Hilary Mantel book – even while knowing how it ends

Historian of British politics and society during and after the second world war

Around 25,000 publishers, authors and agents were due to attend the fair next week, where deals for biggest books are struck

Open letter continues drive to remove ‘damaging everyday sexism’ in its entries, such as citing ‘bitch’ as a synonym for woman

Wolf Hall novelist adds that centuries on from Henry VIII, a female royal such as the Duchess of Sussex is ‘still perceived as public property’

Three Booker winners lead a 16-strong field contending for £30,000 prize in what judges described as ‘an extraordinary year’

Editorial: In troubled times, the global challenges that face us can also unite us. This newspaper will place itself at the heart of the debate

Callum Manning, 13, whose reviews were mocked by pupils, backed by Matt Haig and others