Renowned for illustrating the ‘Famous Five’ series, the mercurial, motorcar-obsessed Eileen Soper lived a bucolic and eccentric life, discovers Ian Morton

Blinding: The Left Wing Mircea Cǎrtǎrescu, trans. by ...

Best books… Roy Foster The emeritus professor of ...

As winter relinquishes its grip, Tessa Waugh enjoys a copybook meet, with convivial chat, springy turf and good sport – while the real hunting aficionados demonstrate their teleporting skills

The relentlessly positive spirit of the VWH hounds and their huntsman is infectious during a good day’s sport

With 36 years in hunt service behind him, Robert McCarthy is one of the country’s most senior and most respected huntsmen. He talks to Tessa Waugh about Crufts, the current situation and life in Northumberland