My life in books

As a child reading was my refuge from a difficult time. I could read from a very early age and being able to escape into the pages of a book had a huge impact on my life. Swallows & Amazons by Arthur

Which childhood book first sparked your love of reading? I was a little bit of a mythical unicorn growing up – unlike everyone else I knew, my family never had a TV, so I spend a lot of my time readin

The best new books you’ll love

Actor, presenter and now author Larry Lamb reveals why the written word – particularly verse – has always meant so much to him

Best books… Richard Holmes The biographer chooses five ...

MARIE peered out of the front room window, wondering if people would be on time. And not only that – what if nobody showed? She let the net curtain drop, listening to the kettle whistling in the kitch