Harry Potter and Michael Bublé fuel UK online reselling boom
Sales at MusicMagpie jumped more than 22% last year as secondhand books and CD sales soared
War of the words: HG Wells coin also features false quote
The new coin is inscribed: ‘Good books are warehouses of ideas’ – but digging reveals the quote to be both wrong and expressing a different sentiment
Indie bookshops defy Covid to record highest numbers for seven years
There were 967 independents in the UK and Ireland at the end of last year, the most since 2013 - but the figure masks some closures
‘They adored each other’: book casts new light on Francis Bacon’s lover
Exclusive: Peter Lacy was not the sadistic fighter pilot and drunk he has been described as, authors say
HG Wells fans spot numerous errors on Royal Mint’s new £2 coin
Readers say coin commemorating the author of The War of the Worlds gives his alien tripod a fourth leg and The Invisible Man the wrong kind of hat
Lee Lawrence’s memoir of his mother’s shooting by police wins Costa award
The Louder I Will Sing wins best biography, with other prizes including best novel for Monique Roffey and posthumous poetry honour for Eavan Boland
Michael Morpurgo denies ‘censoring’ Merchant of Venice in children’s book
War Horse author says his Tales from Shakespeare was only ever going to include 10 plays, and he has chosen the ones most likely to appeal to young readers
Dylan Dog: the hit London-set Italian horror comic unknown in the UK
The Italian detective’s horror comic book adventures have sold 60m copies worldwide. So why is he not well-known in his fictional home?
George Blake exemplified the desolation, waste and treachery of the cold war
The intelligence officer turned KGB agent who has died at 98 never belonged to Kim Philby’s elite traitors’ club
Country diary: following in the footsteps of Nan Shepherd
Creag Dubh, Highlands: Described by the Scottish writer as ‘blue cold and brilliant’, the walk was less inviting on our day up the mountain, but no less exciting
Alan Bennett’s 2020 diary reveals growing health struggles
At 86, the playwright says arthritis is increasingly restrictive, but also finds room for satirical jabs at Boris Johnson’s government and everyday comedy
Richard Osman becomes first debut author to land Christmas No 1
The Thursday Murder Club sees off titles by Barack Obama and David Walliams in chaotic week for Britain’s book trade
‘Naked and starving’: letters tell how English paupers fought for rights 200 years ago
Appeals to the morality of parish overseers show how penniless families were ‘masters’ at navigating Old English Poor Law
David Constantine wins Queen’s gold medal for poetry
Poet laureat Simon Armitage, a previous winner, praised the humanity of the author’s work ‘noticing and detailing the ways of the world’
Paperchase removes card with orphan joke after protest from Lemn Sissay
After the poet joined others voicing dismay at Christmas card ‘punching down’ at children in care, the stationery chain has apologised and withdrawn it