‘It’s been a rollercoaster’: how indie publishers survived – and thrived – in 2020
When lockdown came in March, many small presses feared they would go out of business. But then came an outpouring of support from the public
Julie Burchill’s publisher cancels book contract over Islam tweets
Author’s comments ‘crossed a line with regard to race and religion’, says Little, Brown
The Guardian view on Brexit jingoism: crudely ineffective
Editorial: The outbreak of ‘gunboat diplomacy’ diminished the government and, more importantly, the nation it represents
John le Carré obituary
Writer whose spy novels chronicle how people’s lives play out in the corrupt setting of the cold war era and beyond
Tome raiders: solving the great book heist
When £2.5m of rare books were stolen in an audacious heist at Feltham in 2017, police wondered, what’s the story? By Mark Wilding
‘If she was a bloke, she’d still be in print’: the lost novels of Gertrude Trevelyan
Her debut about a woman who raises an orangutan as a human was widely praised in 1932, but her work has slipped from sight. Is it time for a revival?
Elizabeth Barrett Browning letter describing lonely quarantine up for sale
Auctioneers say 1839 letter to her cousin bemoaning isolation in Torquay, with visitors ‘a thing forbidden’, is very apt reading this year
From variolation to vaccines: a short history of a medical triumph
The humble cow is encoded in one of medicine’s greatest feats
Evaristo says ‘powerful statement’ to be first black female head of UK drama school
Author hopes to inspire students of colour as Rose Bruford college appoints her as president
‘Do we really need it?’ Council leader questions library service after months of closure
The West Midlands borough’s seven libraries have not resumed service after the November lockdown and Mike Bird has provoked fury by suggesting they may not
Questions raised over charity seeking to buy JRR Tolkien’s Oxford house
Project backed by Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman hopes to raise £4.5m for the purchase, but there are concerns about intentions of Christian groups involved
Bad sex award cancelled as public exposed to ‘too many bad things in 2020’
Prize for ‘unconvincing, perfunctory, embarrassing or redundant passages of a sexual nature in sound literary novels’ will resume in 2021
No buts: Keir Starmer did not inspire Helen Fielding’s Mark Darcy
Author lays rumour to rest that her Bridget Jones character was based on the Labour leader
The Guardian view on advent: what are we waiting for?
Editorial: This year we have learned to mark time once more – bringing frustration and despair, but also new pleasures
Roald Dahl’s family apologises for his antisemitism
Statement on author’s official website says his views caused ‘lasting and understandable hurt’