Charles Dickens’s ‘sliding doors’ moment: how a cold turned an aspiring thespian into a writer
An exhibition explores the authors’ love of theatre, highlighting the dramatic impact of his works
The Guardian view on the Women’s prize for nonfiction: shining a light where it’s badly needed
Editorial: Having a separate award was good for female novelists. Now a medical author is blazing a trail with a true story
British Library to reinstate Oscar Wilde’s reader card 130 years after it was revoked
Exclusive: Pass to be presented to playwright’s grandson after original cancelled over conviction for gross indecency
Cal review – grieving Helen Mirren superb in compassionate Troubles romance
Mirren won best actress at Cannes in 1984 for her role as Marcella, who forms a relationship with John Lynch’s Cal – a man complicit in her husband’s murder
Edinburgh book festival to focus on hope with line-up including Kureishi and Sturgeon
Former footballer Ally McCoist also among guests as festival seeks to broaden its appeal
Frederick Forsyth, Day of the Jackal author and former MI6 agent, dies aged 86
Writer used his experience reporting on De Gaulle’s France to plot his thriller, and continued to draw on real-world research for subsequent bestsellers
Politics can destroy relationships – just ask Sarah Vine and Michael Gove
In her memoir, Vine pins the downfall of her marriage on Brexit. But the finer details tell a story we might all be familiar with, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes
British-Palestinian writer NS Nuseibeh wins Jhalak prose prize for writers of colour
‘Timely’ essay collection Namesake explores identity, religion and colonialism as Nathanael Lessore takes children’s and young adult prize and Mimi Khalvati wins for poetry
Bernardine Evaristo scoops Women’s prize outstanding contribution award
One-off £100,000 prize awarded to Girl, Women, Other writer for entire body of work and ‘dedication to uplifting under-represented voices’
Jacqueline Wilson ‘very wary’ of writing adult Tracy Beaker novel
Author says she won’t revisit the beloved character because it would seem ‘inappropriate’ to discuss her sex life
As a Muslim girl in Bradford, I saw my story in Jane Austen’s novels. Now I’ve directed a TV series about her
I soaked up her sharp insights into class, gender and power. Reading more about her life, the parallels between us became clear, says TV director Ali Naushahi
Walk on the wild side: Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs on their epic hiking movie The Salt Path
Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir about her and her husband’s 630-mile trek around England’s south coast has become a film. Its stars, makers and Winn talk floods, fog and forgiveness
Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter says she believes online pornography played role in rape case
Caroline Darian tells Hay festival that pornography websites are ‘part of the system’ of misogyny and violence
The Salt Path review – Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs hike from ruin to renewal
Marianne Elliott directs this affecting drama, based on Raynor Winn’s memoir, which builds steadily as the couple journey towards redemption
The Guardian view on Ed Davey’s mission: build politics around care. If not, cruelty will define it
Editorial: Personal experience shapes the Liberal Democrat leader’s agenda, offering a humane alternative and exposing a state oblivious to quiet sacrifice