Filthy lucre is everywhere, but book festivals are an easy target for protesters’ fury Hay and Edinburgh forgo pragmatism in turning their backs on the Baillie Gifford fund
Being a politician was ‘very yucky’, ex-MP Rory Stewart tells Hay audience Former Tory minister admits at festival that he felt a fraud due to need to give the impression he was in three places at once
‘He had a sarcastic turn of phrase’: discovery of 1509 book sheds new light on ‘father of utilitarianism’ Unearthed notes owned by the renowned philosopher Jeremy Bentham reveal the roots of his influential ethics
Geri Halliwell-Horner reveals writing advice she was given by top authors Ex-Spice Girl tells Hay festival about tips from William Boyd and Jacqueline Wilson for children’s book
Our obsession with origin is a global danger, says Jhumpa Lahiri Flawed desire to restore authenticity and purity is fuelling right in US, India and Italy, author tells Hay festival
News of the World paid women to sleep with celebrities, James Blunt says Tabloid had women on payroll to get stories about people’s sexual performance, singer tells Hay festival
Jane Austen fans despair at student digs plan for hotel where she danced Devotees of author from Britain and the US lobby Southampton council to reject proposals for historic Dolphin building
Martin Amis memorial to be held in London Friends, family and colleagues will celebrate the author with tributes and readings at St Martin-in-the-Fields church with limited tickets available for members of the public
David Nicholls warns readers against trying to visit novel’s locations Bestselling writer says Lake District sites in new book You Are Here are ‘genuinely all made up’
Hay festival drops main sponsor after boycotts over Israel and fossil fuel links Literary event ‘suspends’ arrangement with Baillie Gifford after Charlotte Church and Nish Kumar joined performers pulling out
Anthony Horowitz: writers should not be told to make books more diverse Children’s author tells Hay festival he is aware of need to be inclusive but it should not be imposed
How Bridgerton’s real life Lady Whistledown scandalised 18th-century society The subversive work of Eliza Haywood, the feminist forerunner of the TV show’s gossip columnist, is about to be republished
Caleb Azumah Nelson wins £20,000 Dylan Thomas prize for Small Worlds Judges describe second novel set between south-east London and Ghana as ‘symphonic’ and ‘viscerally moving’
‘They made it look so easy’: traditional craft of bookbinding rejuvenated for the TikTok age Enthusiasts are customising their favourite works and being rewarded with wide social media following
A dearth of priests suggests the Catholic church should widen recruitment It’s no wonder numbers training for the priesthood continue to fall when married men or any woman are still barred