BooksJohn Cooper Clarke: 'A national treasure? I hate that'He is about to become the first poet to headline a UK arena, but says he isn't ready for national treasure status.See moreMore headlinesAuthor Ann Patchett on finding kindness amid chaosThe award-winning writer and reluctant bookshop owner tells Katty Kay about seeing kindness in a world of chaos, and her decision to stay off social media.4 days agoCultureYoung writers on Dylan Thomas Prize shortlistThe award of £20,000 is given to writers aged 39 and younger with "exceptional" talent. 4 days agoWalesCommunity library to close after 76 yearsIt will be transferred to another service on the island, the charity behind it says.4 days agoGuernseySheen hopes to get children talking about homelessnessThe actor says storytelling is "an important way to make change in the world".7 days agoWales'I've never read Gaskell - now I write in her home'Three women who do not know any of the author's work become writers-in-residence in her former home.15 Mar 2025ManchesterSpringFest: Book festival comes to East YorkshireAuthor talks and workshops will be held in libraries across the region from 15 to 22 March.14 Mar 2025Hull & East YorkshireReviewsThe 24 best books of 2024From an intense tale of two brothers to a stunning Booker winner – the very best fiction of the year.See moreWatchWhy Cher has waited until now to write her memoirCher explains why she has finally written her memoir and who it's for.2 Dec 2024BooksStriking images of women in the Black Panther PartyStephen Shames' photography offers a radically new and candid picture of the militant black power organisation.23 Feb 2024BooksBraille: What is it like to read without sight?What happens to our brains when we learn to read Braille?29 Jan 2023BooksInside the abandoned city of ancient librariesThe African town of Chinguetti is home to a large collection of forgotten ancient books. 23 Feb 2022BooksHow paper is making a comebackAs the world goes digital, paper might seem increasingly obsolete – but it is anything but.23 Feb 2022BooksPreserving the ancient art of handcrafting booksIn the digital age, the beautiful and ancient art of hand-binding books is under threat.23 Feb 2022BooksElizabeth Day: 'I felt so understood in the pages'When Elizabeth Day had a miscarriage, it was the words in a book from 1936 that helped her through it.23 Feb 2022BooksHow reading can help us cope with deathLisa Appignanesi describes how reading fiction helped her deal with bereavement.23 Feb 2022BooksMichael Rosen: 'How poetry helped me to grieve'When author Michael Rosen lost his son, he found inspiration to write again in a poem by Raymond Carver.23 Feb 2022BooksThe fiction that helped Laura Freeman recover from anorexiaHow a love of reading helped one woman recover from anorexia.23 Feb 2022BooksIs this Italy’s smallest library?One retired teacher is spreading the joy of books using his tiny mobile library.23 Feb 2022BooksThe man who lives in a library with no rulesNanie Guanlao turned his home into a library for his community in Manila.23 Feb 2022BooksThe ancient library where the books are under lock and keyStep inside the world’s largest surviving chained library.23 Feb 2022BooksBiblioburro: The amazing donkey libraries of ColombiaOne man and his loyal donkeys spreading the joy of books in Colombia.23 Feb 2022BooksMore Books4 days agoThe 1800s poem written to prove rhyming is easyLongleat's archive has a handwritten copy of a poem written following a breakfast argument in the 1800s.4 days agoWiltshire4 days agoLatitude children's poetry competition gets biggerThis year's contest is open to seven to 11-year-olds from Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.4 days agoEngland5 days agoPoet starts venturing out after years of isolatingKarl Knights' isolation after the 2020 Covid lockdown has lasted longer due to immuno-suppression.5 days ago13 Mar 2025Tube station book swap ban 'ridiculous'The decision to end free book exchanges at Tube stations on fire safety grounds is met with dismay.13 Mar 2025London12 Mar 2025Wales punches above its weight in arts, says FryThe broadcaster and writer is president of Hay Festival, which takes place in May and June.12 Mar 2025UK12 Mar 2025'I was numb after my father's death' - Gary LightbodyLightbody's father, who had dementia, died in a nursing home in December 2019.12 Mar 2025Northern Ireland12 Mar 2025'I was lucky to be Sir Terry Pratchett's agent'Colin Smythe reflects on the near five decades he worked with author Sir Terry Pratchett.12 Mar 2025Beds, Herts & Bucks10 Mar 2025How Oskar Schindler saved 1,200 Jewish peopleThe story of Schindler's heroism became a novel and a film. But in 1982, author Thomas Keneally told the BBC that this was all thanks to a chance meeting with a luggage salesman.10 Mar 2025Culture9 Mar 2025The poet who is turning rejection into artAbhi Arumbakkam said she wanted to give herself "permission to laugh" in the face of rejection.9 Mar 2025Berkshire...
