Latest from Books

Books: Against the ebbing tide

"Short stories don't sell," is the current mantra of publishers everywhere, as a way of refusing to look at proffered manuscripts in case they love them and are sorely tempted.

Books: 'It better be big. It better be good. It better be worth it'

With a new novel out, and a potential film finally on the horizon, Patricia Cornwell tells Judith Woods how Dr Kay Scarpetta was held hostage by Hollywood.

Books: When Snow White met Sleeping Beauty

Neil Gaiman’s latest fantasy is an attempt to restore to fairy tales some of the danger the Grimm brothers removed. Gaby Wood reports.

Books: Riding high

Some Luck is the first volume of Pulitzer Prize-winner Jane Smiley’s trilogy set in the Iowa badlands. Boyd Tonkin reports.

Dylan Horrocks: 'It's an amazing time to be making comics'

Comic artist drawn back to action

Kiwi comic creator Dylan Horrocks' love of the medium was beaten to a pulp by Batgirl, but was sparked back into life through a trip into his own imaginary landscape.

Lena Dunham on reaction to rape claims: 'You can help by saying I believe you'

'I have had my character and credibility questioned at every turn,' said Dunham of her sexual assault claim.

Memoir amended over rape account

Actress Lena Dunham will reportedly make an amendment to her memoir after the identity of an alleged rapist was revealed.

JK Rowling's gift to Potter fans

British author JK Rowling will publish new Harry Potter material every day from December 12 to 23 on her website Pottermore.com as a gift to fans.

Pumping up the volumes

The end of the year has brought a flood of rock biographies. Russell Baillie thumbs through a small pile of them.

Books: Court and conflict make gripping drama

Changing fortunes in Tudor times have ring of reality.

The best books of the year

INTERACTIVE: Our annual guide to the best books to give and receive this Christmas. Guess which ones made the list.

PD James leaves a mystery of 'one last crime novel'

PD James, the acclaimed crime writer who died this week, aged 94, was planning one final detective novel.

Fatally interesting: Dr Masson

One of the great characters in modern literature could be found in actual life at his amazing house in Auckland's Karaka Bay on Wednesday morning.

10 facts about PD James

10 things about P.D. James, British crime writer who died on Thursday, aged 94.

Remembering crime writer P.D. James

Stephen Jewell had the pleasure of speaking to author P.D James. The crime queen died today, aged 94. Here's the story he wrote after their chat.

The Clash: Splitting books for movies: Good or god-awful?

I loved <i>The Hunger Games</i> books, but that doesn't mean I want to see two hours of Katniss whining, writes Rachel Bache. Can we not just cut out the pages that you likely skipped anyway and make a movie that is more than just okay?

Books: Emma rework misses the point