‘When Osama stepped into a room, you felt it’
Exclusive extracts from Carmen bin Ladin's revealing book, The Veiled Kingdom.
Meet the in-laws
Carmen bin Ladin, sister-in-law of the world's most notorious terrorist, talks to Emma Brockes about the culture shock she experienced in Jeddah, her eventual escape back to Switzerland - and how she horrified Osama by appearing bare-faced before him.
How one man’s gospel tale became a global bestseller
You've probably never heard of him, but a man in a loud shirt is well on the way to being the world's most influential churchman. Paul Harris reports from Lake Forest, California.
Don’t have an identity crisis
Commentary: Author Louisa Young on why celebrating a mixed heritage is increasingly important.
Against all odds
Virginia Rounding is captivated by Two Babushkas, Masha Gessen's account of two grandmothers' experiences of life under Stalin.
Search for holy grail enters new chapter
How a Scottish chapel is reaping the benefits of a blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code, which has outraged the religious right.
Still pressing the flesh
There are many fascinating moments in Bill Clinton's story, but after My Life's 957-page campaign he remains a tragic figure, says Robert McCrum.
Story of the Stasi holds secret of a bestseller
Prize for book on life beyond the Wall confirms rise of historical hits.
One hell of a ride
It may have been called a 'diary dump' but Bill Clinton's My Life is still riveting, says Jonathan Freedland.
Kamala Markandaya
Gifted novelist who explored the conflicting values of India's people.
Rose between thorns
Josef Stalin's great purges of the 1930s cost untold millions of lives - and not all of them were Russians. Francis Beckett tells the story of the vivacious British communist whose life of romance, glamour and intrigue ended in solitude and fear.
From White House to whitewash?
The first review of Bill Clinton's memoirs dismisses them as self-serving, but there has been the odd spot of praise.
‘Mandela helped me survive Monicagate, Arafat could not make the leap to peace – and for days John Major wouldn’t take my calls’
On the eve of the publication of his eagerly anticipated $10m autobiography, Bill Clinton speaks exclusively to Alan Rusbridger and Jonathan Freedland in New York.