British Library acquires archive of rural life writer and essayist Ronald Blythe
Exclusive: Collection includes workbooks and index cards, and papers that show his research for bestseller Akenfield
‘It’s younger people seeking some sort of spirituality’: UK Bible sales reach record high
Surge in 2025 sales correlates with the growth in church attendances in England and Wales, research shows
The hill I will die on: Fan fiction is real literature, whatever the snobs say
Yes, it’s messy, derivative and occasionally incomprehensible – but so is life, says comedian Urooj Ashfaq
Rage bait, goblin mode … do words of the year have any real value?
Analysis shows obscure and barely used choices, drawn from online slang, do not stand the test of time
Meera Syal, Gabby Logan and Richard Osman among new year honours in arts and media
Syal becomes a dame, Last of the Summer Wine writer Roy Clarke gets knighthood and Paul Elliott awarded MBE
The Guardian view on the National Year of Reading 2026: time to start a healthy habit for life
Editorial: A Children’s Booker prize, library cards for newborns and a major campaign – initiatives to encourage a love of books in children are a cause for celebration
Child abuse victim of Jackanory presenter tells how climbing saved him
Iain Peters waited more than 50 years before going to the police but hopes he can be a beacon for other survivors
Unpublished ‘Tupperware erotica’ novel prompts fierce contest for TV rights
Interest in Wet Ink by Abigail Avis is part of a trend for works by female authors among streamers and production companies
Charles Dickens exhibition to shine light on powerful women in author’s life
Novels only ‘reinforced Victorian stereotypes’ of meek women to give readers what they wanted, says curator
Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune tops 2025 UK bestsellers list
Fantasy, mystery and psychological thriller series dominate book sales, as adult colouring also makes a comeback
Thrillers should be on UK school curriculum to boost reading, says Lee Child
Bestselling author says focus on ‘masterpieces’ puts children off as he promotes prison literacy scheme
Waterstones and Barnes & Noble owner looks to list booksellers on stock market
US hedge fund Elliott thought to prefer IPO in London over New York, which could be welcome boost to UK stock market
Want to understand the sickness of Britain today? Look no further – a novel explained it all 20 years ago
The racism, the predatory politics, the banality and cruelty: we struggle to make sense of it, but JG Ballard foretold everything we are living through now, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
Dorset to unveil statue of feminist writer and LGBTQ+ pioneer – and a cat
Tribute to Sylvia Townsend Warner follows campaign to nominate overlooked women
Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale has become ‘more and more plausible’
Canadian author discusses US under Donald Trump and says setting of dystopian novel has ‘become much closer’