Books

Certain children's classics could fetch thousands online (Image: Getty)The UK is a nation of booklovers, with the average household owning 104 books. But among these collections could be a potential heirloom worth a small fortune, especially when it comes to early or limited-edition copies of popular children’s books.Specialist home insurance provider Homeprotect have identified the most valuable children’s books that could earn you more than just dust on your shelves. Taking the top spot is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, with fourth editions selling for as much as £2,686 on eBay in recent months. The epic fantasy classic was first published in 1937 and has sold over 100 million copies since then. It was originally sold for seven shillings and six pence, which is equivalent to £22.58 to...

Rob Newman's brilliant new Second World War-set book stars two women philosophers (Image: Courtesy Robert Newman)On November 20, 1944, a US P-47 Thunderbolt nicknamed Peggy III was hit by flak while returning from a dive-bombing mission over the German city of Bonn. Its 25-year-old pilot, Captain Robert J Bradford, was killed attempting to escape his burning aircraft, which subsequently crashed near the village of Liblar. The young US Eighth Air Force pilot, a member of the 56th Fighter Group, 63rd Fighter Squadron, had grown up in Dallam County, Texas, and trained as an architect before learning to fly and travelling halfway across the world to fight the Nazis.Fellow airman Randel L Murphy Jr recalled: “The last time I saw him was at approximately 11:20 hours and it looked as though he...

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, holding a picture of herself as a teen, exposed Jeffrey Epstein (Image: Getty)A devastating memoir by Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accuser is shortlisted for Book of the Year alongside two other explosive titles that shocked readers and helped change public perceptions at the UK’s most prestigious publishing awards. Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, by Virginia Roberts Giuffre is among the nominations revealed today for the British Book Awards 2026.Its US author took her own life aged 41 in April last year. Her memoir, detailing how she was sex trafficked by the billionaire paedophile, became a bestseller after it was published posthumously in October and praised for its courage. Fittingly, also shortlisted in the non-fict...

The Dark Heart by Neil Lancaster, Hardback, £16.99Neil Lancaster’s crack police anti-corruption squad returns for its seventh outing in The Dark Heart, set against the backdrop of a devastating car bomb attack in York that isn’t quite what it seems. DS Max Craigie and his team, introduced in 2021’s Dead Man’s Grave, are soon unpicking a major conspiracy.But it’s a dangerous game and blood will be spilled. Lancaster, whose books have been compared to Jack Reacher fronting Line of Duty by no less a figure than Ian Rankin, brings together a complex, page-turner of a plot with easy confidence. Surely a TV adaptation must be in the offing for Craigie and co? Another stonking page-turner. Literally too good to miss. 8/10Deception Island by R S Burnett, Paperback Original, £9.99Rob Burnett’s d...

Winston Churchill historians unearth World War 2 PM’s forgotten ‘obsession’ (Image: GETTY)Today marks the 80th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s famous Iron Curtain speech.Delivered as a private citizen, the World War 2 prime minister had been booted out of office less than a year prior.Nevertheless, forever the respected statesman, his words warning of the Soviet threat to the West foreshadowed the oncoming Cold War.Crucially, Churchill urged Great Britain to strengthen ties with his mother’s birthplace, the United States of America, a liberal democratic capitalist superpower that could stand up to the expansionism of Stalin’s communist totalitarianism in the USSR.Prominent Churchill historians, Professor Richard Toye and Dr Warren Dockter, are currently co-writing a new book on t...

One Show presenter Alex Jones is backing Bookmark Reading Charity's Mind the Gap campaign (Image: Getty)The One Show star Alex Jones has revealed she was so shy at school she never spoke in class – admitting her “12-year old self would be very surprised about my chosen career path”. Speaking ahead of World Book Day today, the BBC broadcaster said: “I had great teachers in school who took the time to really see me, not just as another pupil, but as a young person with something to say. Their patience and belief helped me feel capable and that’s why I’m so passionate about literacy support. When a child struggles with reading, it can chip away their confidence.”Jones, 48, has been working with the Bookmark Reading Charity on its ‘Mind the Gap’ campaign – focusing on bridging the literacy ...

Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses have been left delighted after author Sarah J. Maas announced the release date for the next two books in the series. Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the author shared that there are three upcoming books in the series, and that two will be published soon — one on October 27 and the next on January 12, 2027.During the podcast, Sarah revealed that she's had to split the next book into three instalments due to its length, explaining: "As I started writing this in like this energy vortex, like it came outta me in a way that surprised me. And by the time I reached, you know, I like to do parts like part one, part two, part three, by the time I got to the end of part one, it was like 400 pages long."So I decided I wasn't gonna approach this project ...

Some of the biggest names have had some of the biggest fails (Image: Matt Kent, Getty Images)Over the years, numerous D-list publications have emerged from A-list celebrities, with several managing to escape widespread attention.You might be surprised to discover that some beloved stars have experienced spectacular failures in their literary pursuits.The very worst of literary offences have been committed and it's scarcely believable these works actually exist, yet regrettably, they do.This World Book Day, we're revisiting the forgotten failures from globally renowned personalities, and we're grateful they've maintained focus on their usual day jobs ever since.Here's the definitive catalogue of embarrassing reads, with some barely requiring any reading whatsoever. READ MORE: I read ev...

Claire Lynch became the first debut novelist to win the prestigious Nero Gold Prize (Image: Courtesy Nero Book Awards)A novel by a first-time writer that was inspired by real-life child custody cases and the injustices of the Family Courts has won the prestigious Nero Gold Prize. Claire Lynch became the first debut novelist to be awarded the £30,000 prize for A Family Matter, which through a fictional mirror examines how, in the eighties, lesbian mothers almost always lost custody of their children during divorce cases.Lynch, from Windsor, Berks, told the awards, hosted by sarah Montague on Wednesday evening, that the success of her book was a tribute to the many real people whose stories had inspired her.Award-winning author and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nick Hornby, chip of judges,...

The master of horror is the mind behind so many classics — It, The Shining and Carrie, just to name a few. But when Stephen King isn't writing new masterpieces, he's a voracious reader.The acclaimed author has shared that he typically reads around 80 books a year, remarking: "So many books, so little time." But which titles does he treasure most? For The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books, King revealed his selection alongside a memorable anecdote about his number one choice.He shared a cherished memory that took place in his native Lisbon Falls, Maine. With just a few dollars to spare at a discount store, he gambled more than half his budget on a volume he called "the best $2.25 I ever spent".