Magnifique! Académie française elects first British-born member

Poet and professor Michael Edwards, 74, from Barnes, joins elite learned body that defends the purity of the French language

What’s next for books in the digital age? Outlook unclear

Dan Gillmor: Innovations have blurred the boundaries of books and digital media, forcing authors and publishers to cope with an uncertain future

Donald Richie obituary

Western authority on the culture of Japan, his adopted homeland

Maziar Bahari’s memoir: Then They Came for Me

Iranian filmmaker's written account of the 2009 disputed election and his 118 days of incarceration and torture at the notorious Evin prison

Christian Bale takes on Everest in new Working Title film

Actor to star in Baltasar Kormákur's disaster movie based on real storm on Everest that killed eight climbers

Where do the lovely cooking aromas in your kitchen go?

Readers answer other readers' questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts

Lucretius, part 5: all perceptions are true

Emma Woolerton: How to believe: Everything we see is made up of the infinite atoms that swirl about us. These perceptions are the basis of our certain knowledge about the world

Tennessee Williams lambasted his rivals as ‘vampires’

New biography reveals US playwright's unflattering views of contemporaries, by drawing on unpublished work, writes Dalya Alberge

Mystery of Henri IV’s missing head divides France

Book claiming mummified skull found in the attic of a retired tax collector is that of 'good king' Henri IV provokes fierce debate

Hillary Clinton: book tells plane truths behind aims as secretary of state

Emma G Keller: A BBC reporter has written an insider's account of a four-year airborne campaign to reposition the US – and perhaps the lady herself

The Garden: Alessandro Imbriaco photographs one family’s exile to Eden

Sean O'Hagan: Captivated by the plight of Piero and his family living in a swamp outside Rome, the Italian photographer created a book that casts them in an eerily beautiful light

How Harry Styles and his boy band could see off the Arts Council

Marina Hyde: Alain de Botton believes his new philosopher friend and One Direction star could boost the UK's intellectual capacity almost single-handedly. All Harry needs is help from David Beckham

Knight Foundation now says it regrets $20,000 payment to Jonah Lehrer

After initially defending speaker's fee, journalism organisation responds to critics over payment to former New Yorker plagiarist

Ronald Dworkin obituary

Brilliant philosopher of law who put human dignity at the centre of his moral system

Superman contract for anti-gay author causes growing anger

Orson Scott Card's express opposition to gay rights has prompted 10,000-strong petition to DC Comics