ONE OF THE MOST GRIMLY FUNNY POEMS OF the past century is Philip Larkin’s “This Be the Verse,” with its opening salvo about how our parents invariably mess us up. Larkin used a saltier word for “mess,

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

SARAH DITUM

Ben Stiller has made a film about his parents, who were comedy stars in 1960s USA. But does the film actually say more about him?

After an eventful three decades on TV news, broadcaster Sally Magnusson is refocusing her efforts on her literary endeavours

Our Antonella tells it how it is