On the merits of celebrity authors and literary book prizes

Norman Lebrecht on how Marion von Weber was both interesting and important to Mahler’s emergence

John Self on debut novels that provide an insight into publishing in Britain

Henry Jeffreys recommends five innovative Lebanese wines which show the potential of the country’s growing wine industry

Kathleen Stock’s new book is exactly the kind of forensic, generous intervention the ongoing trans debate sorely needs

From psychological character studies to witty and fast-paced detective novels, Jeremy Black rounds up the best crime fiction for late Spring

Director Betrand Tavernier was able to admire both blacklisted directors and those who named names

Professor Jeremy Black and Graham Stewart discuss the role of the queen in British and European history

There are now so many awards that not winning one must seem a source of shame

Nick Cohen reveals how this book, along with hundreds of political writers like him, ducks the reality of working class life