Elly Griffiths: ‘If I love a book I read it multiple times’
The crime writer on embracing politics in her teens, discovering the thrill of George Eliot, and learning from Wilkie Collins
March 2022
To Kill a Mockingbird review – Harper Lee would approve of snappy Sorkin update
Rafe Spall is a dignified Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin’s smooth and confident adaptation, which finds modern-day resonances in the 1960 classic about racial injustice in the American south
Observer New Review Q&A
Aaron Sorkin: ‘Screenwriters write about people who are cooler than we are’
The American writer known for The West Wing, Moneyball and The Social Network on adapting To Kill a Mockingbird for the stage in the 21st century
Court is in session: To Kill a Mockingbird in the West End – in pictures
Rafe Spall stars as small-town Alabama lawyer Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin’s acclaimed adaptation of the classic novel by Harper Lee
June 2021
Books that made me
Ben Macintyre: ‘I wish I’d written The Great Gatsby. Doesn’t everyone?’
The author and journalist on his two unopened copies of Stephen Hawking’s great work and not getting on with Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy
March 2021
Rafe Spall to star in West End premiere of To Kill a Mockingbird
Spall will replace Rhys Ifans as Atticus Finch in production opening at the Gielgud theatre in March 2022
February 2021
Books that made me
Vick Hope: 'I didn’t just cry when reading A Little Life, I bawled'
The TV presenter, author and Women’s prize judge on reading To Kill a Mockingbird at nine, the influence of Malorie Blackman and her love for David Almond’s novels
September 2020
American classics among most ‘challenged’ books of the decade in US
Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird among works protesters have tried to get removed from schools and libraries
October 2019
Aaron Sorkin's To Kill a Mockingbird to open in West End next year
The West Wing writer’s play will coincide with the 60th anniversary of the publication of Harper Lee’s novel
September 2019
Books blog
The Testaments, 34 years in the making: the longest gaps between sequels
The three decades between The Handmaid’s Tale and Margaret Atwood’s much anticipated follow-up makes the wait for George RR Martin’s The Winds of Winter seem brief
June 2019
In brief: Furious Hours; When We Were Rich; Heroes – review
A compelling account of Harper Lee’s lost true-crime book and more
May 2019
The real story behind Harper Lee’s lost true crime book
New details of Harper Lee true crime book revealed as briefcase mystery solved
March 2019
Harper Lee letter condemns home town for making her into a 'tourist attraction'
Auctioned letter to old friend fulminates against the ‘indescribable’ way To Kill a Mockingbird was being used to promote Monroeville, Alabama
December 2018
To Kill a Mockingbird review – Aaron Sorkin spellbinds Broadway
To Kill a Mockingbird hits Broadway after lawsuit over Aaron Sorkin’s script
October 2018
To Kill a Mockingbird voted top 'Great American Read' in US poll
Millions of American readers voted Harper Lee’s renowned story about racism as their favourite novel in six-month PBS poll
Michael Freedland obituary
Broadcaster, writer and prolific biographer of Hollywood and showbusiness stars
The Guardian view on modern writers: the myth of the reclusive author
Editorial: These days, most writers cannot afford to live secluded from their public. But when a very private author like Thomas Harris announces a new novel, there’s always special excitement
May 2018
Mockingbird play set for Broadway after Harper Lee estate settles dispute
Lawyers for the late novelist, and for producers of Aaron Sorkin’s stage adaptation, have agreed a deal that will allow the show to open in December
