Secrets and spies
The movie rights have been snapped up, but the book that apparently sealed the fate of Alexander Litvinenko, Blowing Up Russia, leaves few clues about his murder.
‘I had a lot of guts back then’
In the 70s, Patti Smith was the high priestess of punk. Then she traded in fame for a quiet life at home with her children. Now, aged 60, she talks to Laura Barton about her new collection of poetry, the loss of her husband and how she still hopes to write a literary masterpiece.
Robert Anton Wilson
Obituary: The science fiction writer who turned Playboy readers' conspiracy theories into drug-assisted cult fiction.
New face for ‘not so ugly’ Dante
He may not have been exactly handsome. But, as the Italian daily La Repubblica put it bluntly yesterday, 'he was less ugly than believed'.
Carter faces revolt over book on Middle East
· Walkout by 14 members of ex-president's rights group · Criticism of Israel seen as 'malicious advocacy'
Signs of a thaw in writers’ 30-year feud
· García Marquez book has Vargas Llosa prologue
· Mexican cinema brawl in 1976 remains unexplained
Power, corruption and lies
To the west, China is a waking economic giant, poised to dominate the world. But, argues Will Hutton in this extract from his new book, we have consistently exaggerated and misunderstood the threat - and the consequences could be grave.
New China. New crisis
In the last decade China has emerged as a powerful, resurgent economic force with the muscle to challenge America as the global superpower. But, in his controversial new book, Will Hutton argues that China's explosive economic reforms will create seismic tensions within the one-party authoritarian state and asks: can the centre hold?
Terror, bribery and intrigue: the bloody past fuelling Lima’s literary renaissance
International acclaim for writers revisiting dark years of Shining Path rebellion.
Tillie Olsen
Obituary: Feminist author famous for helping aspiring women writers to find a voice.
A dictator’s guide to the universe
What would aliens make of Turkmenistan if they discovered a copy of Saparmurat Niyazov's panoptical Ruhnama?