Whether it’s a jazz age loner looking for love or a boyband star dating an older, wiser woman, fame and its many trapdoors are here for all to see
September 2023
George RR Martin and John Grisham among group of authors suing OpenAI
Seventeen authors have joined a new lawsuit alleging ‘systematic theft on a mass scale’ by the program
July 2023
Authors call for AI companies to stop using their work without consent
Margaret Atwood, Viet Thanh Nguyen and 8,000 others have signed an open letter asking that permission is obtained and compensation given when a writer’s work is used by AI
June 2022
Summer books: Bernardine Evaristo, Hilary Mantel, David Nicholls and more pick their favourites
Authors recommend their favourite recent reads, from addictive novels and fascinating cultural history to a game-changing graphic memoir
December 2021
Best books of 2021
Best fiction of 2021
Dazzling debuts, a word-of-mouth hit, plus this year’s bestsellers from Sally Rooney, Jonathan Franzen, Kazuo Ishiguro and more
November 2021
Cultural prescription
Family misfortunes: film, books, games and more about dysfunctional clans
From Jonathan Franzen to Charles Ray, Guardian critics suggest culture that can mess you up as much as Mum and Dad
October 2021
John le Carré, Daisy May Cooper and Paul McCartney expected to boost book sales at Christmas
The annual event known as ‘Super Thursday’, when most of the hardbacks aimed at the Christmas market are published, promises big names and a boon for the industry
September 2021
Margaret Atwood and JM Coetzee demand release of jailed Iranian writers
A letter by PEN America, signed by dozens of high-profile writers and artistic figures, calls for Baktash Abtin, Keyvan Bajan, and Reza Khandan Mahabadi to be acquitted
Book of the day
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen review – a fine start to a family trilogy
This simmering 70s-set domestic drama is warm, expansive and funny – a pure pleasure to read
Brief letters
We need better wages – not a universal credit tweak
Observer book of the week
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen review – spiritual successor to The Corrections
Jonathan Franzen: ‘I just write it like I see it and that gets me in trouble’
August 2021
Advance copies of Sally Rooney’s unpublished book sold for hundreds of dollars
Uncorrected proofs of upcoming novels have been selling for large sums on eBay and Depop – despite the practice being banned by publishers
November 2020
Jonathan Franzen is back! With the grandest-sounding novel of 2021
The author who previously said no one had more than ‘six fully realised novels in them’ says Crossroads, his imminent sixth, will kick off a family trilogy
October 2020
Books blog
Bill Bryson says he's retiring – is he really putting away his pen?
The beloved American author will be sorely missed, but some writers find it hard to call time on a literary career
December 2019
Fights, food and fall outs: why Christmas is a gift to novelists
From Jane Austen’s Emma to Richard Powers in The Overstory, novelists have used the festive season to gather families together ... and let the drama unfold
November 2019
Book clinic
Book clinic: can you recommend middle-class American authors?
Yes, but go further… there are richly rewarding literary tales from Africa and South America too
October 2019
Jonathan Franzen: online rage is stopping us tackling the climate crisis
This column will change your life
Jonathan Franzen’s right: you need to pick your battles
September 2019
Best culture of the 21st century
The 100 best books of the 21st century
Dazzling debut novels, searing polemics, the history of humanity and trailblazing memoirs ... Read our pick of the best books since 2000
