Emma Loffhagen

EJ Swift has won the 2026 Arthur C Clarke Award for When There Are Wolves Again, a near-future eco-fiction novel about two women, climate activism and rewilding in Britain. Judges praised its environmental themes and emphasis on hope and possible recovery rather than inevitable catastrophe. Swift was selected from a record 132 submissions and receives £2,026 in prize money; the novel beat five other shortlisted works.

Symeon Brown’s book examines the growth, experiences and contradictions of Britain’s Black middle class. Drawing on interviews with about 1,500 Black professionals, Brown argues that Black Britons are often assumed to be working class, obscuring the extent to which those reaching political and cultural power are disproportionately middle class and equipped with elite educational credentials. He contends that greater representation has not produced comparable structural progress, as Black Britain remains stratified and many working-class people remain economically and politically disenfranchised. The discussion also links class to interracial dating, cultural identity, proximity to whiteness and the changing nature of Black professional life. Brown argues that the Black middle class has developed a distinct cultural confidence, but that wage stagnation, rising costs and declining economic security are undermining the middle-class bargain itself.

Jacqueline Crooks’s second novel follows Jaycee, a young woman haunted by childhood sexual abuse, family cruelty and institutional trauma. Her enduring friendship with Ella-G, an attempted reconnection with Sol and a search linked to a forgotten blues record gradually become part of Jaycee’s struggle to recover a sense of self. The review praises Crooks’s dreamlike, musical prose and her fusion of realism with ghosts, visions and spiritual symbolism, while acknowledging that the lyricism can overwhelm the narrative and that the novel’s bleakness may weigh on its momentum. Much of the work is autobiographical and refuses a comforting redemptive ending, presenting trauma as an enduring condition rather than a device leading to catharsis.

George R. R. Martin has written about experiencing depression, grief and the pressures of an overwhelming year while continuing to face scrutiny over the delayed sixth A Song of Ice and Fire novel, The Winds of Winter. In a personal blog post, the 77-year-old author discussed ageing and falling behind on his writing, but said he remains deeply invested in Westeros and its characters. The novel has been in progress since 2011 and has no announced publication date, although Martin said in January that he had completed about 1,100 manuscript pages. He also cited the Emmy recognition of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a positive development.

UK poetry sales exceeded £8m in the first 30 weeks of 2026 and are projected to surpass £15m for the year, driven in part by Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. UK print sales of The Odyssey rose 1,400% after the film’s release, while editions of The Odyssey and The Iliad generated £980,000 in sales. The wider poetry market is also growing independently of the epics, reflecting the influence of social-media poets and a shift toward lifestyle and self-development publishing. Emily Wilson’s translation has benefited most, although she sharply criticized Nolan’s film for lacking psychological, political and ethical depth.

A planned 2028 publication deal worth reportedly more than $2m for Jerry Falade’s debut crime novel, Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body, collapsed after his agents said they could no longer authenticate how the manuscript evolved. The agency initially accepted Falade’s denial of AI use but cut ties after what it described as inconsistencies in his account. Falade denies using AI, criticizes the reliability of detection tools and argues that racial bias may be influencing scrutiny of Black writers. The dispute follows similar controversies involving Mia Ballard and HM Wolfe, highlighting the publishing industry’s unresolved difficulty in verifying AI use in manuscripts.

Dua Lipa will curate the 2026 London Literature festival at London’s Southbank Centre and interview Zadie Smith about White Teeth and Patti Smith about her memoir Bread of Angels. The 21 October–1 November programme, created with Lipa’s Service95 book club, also includes Mustafa, Nadia Murad, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tareq Baconi and Kae Tempest, alongside events on translated fiction and censorship. The festival forms part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th-anniversary year, with organizers aiming to reach a million people across the UK.

The 2026 Booker Prize longlist features 13 novels, including new works by previous winners Marlon James and Douglas Stuart and a third nomination for Elizabeth Strout. The list spans seven nationalities and three continents, includes three debut novelists, and was praised by chair Mary Beard and Booker Prize Foundation chief executive Gaby Wood for its originality, range and willingness to take risks. The selection also creates potential milestones for authors of Mexican, Turkish and Irish heritage, while 81-year-old M John Harrison could become the prize’s oldest winner. The shortlist will be announced in London on 22 September, with the winner selected on 9 November.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw discusses Possession, a Sky supernatural thriller in which she plays Claudia, a half-Jamaican Bristol lawyer investigating an inheritance dispute in Jamaica that exposes the ghosts of plantation slavery and Britain’s colonial legacy. She says the project explores reparations, colonial wealth and the persistence of historical trauma, drawing on Jamaican culture, Obeah and director Storm Saulter’s vision. Mbatha-Raw also reflects on how Belle opened opportunities for Black actors in period drama, her politically engaged South African family background, and the changing prospects for Black British performers. She hopes Possession provokes thought about slavery and reparations while remaining entertaining.

Hadi Matar is facing a federal terrorism trial in Buffalo, New York, after receiving a 25-year state sentence for stabbing Salman Rushdie during a 2022 literary event. Matar denies charges including providing material support to terrorists and committing transnational terrorism; conviction on all counts could result in a life sentence. Prosecutors allege he acted in connection with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s 1989 fatwa against Rushdie and in service of Hezbollah, citing electronic research, journal entries, propaganda videos and communications with an Iran-based contact. Rushdie, who lost sight in one eye and suffered lasting nerve damage, is expected to testify.

Rebecca Perry won the 2026 Waterstones debut fiction prize for May We Feed the King, a novel commended for its inventive structure, rich detail and exploration of memory and power. Judges highlighted its striking prose and imaginative narrative, while Waterstones affirmed continued support for Perry’s career. The shortlist included works by Madeline Cash, Jiyoung Han, Tara Menon, Stephanie Sy-Quia and Angela Tomaski, continuing the prize’s recognition of outstanding debut fiction.

Major publishers Hachette, Cengage and Elsevier, along with author Scott Turow, have sued Google in New York federal court, alleging the company used millions of copyrighted books from Google Books and Google Play Books to train its Gemini AI without permission. The complaint cites internal Google discussions acknowledging major legal risks and argues that AI-generated content threatens authors’ livelihoods. The suit follows previous copyright actions involving Google and other AI companies, including a major settlement by Anthropic. The plaintiffs seek damages, an injunction and destruction of all unauthorized training copies, while Google has not commented.

Annie Lord discusses her debut novel The Project, which follows two women navigating a bleak dating landscape and attempting to reinvent an underwhelming male friend. Building on the candid style that made her breakup memoir and Vogue dating column popular, she reflects on modern heterosexual dynamics, dating app fatigue, and shifting cultural attitudes toward relationships. Lord describes drawing on personal experiences while embracing fiction as a freer form of honesty and remains optimistic about finding love despite chronicling romantic struggles.

Patrice Lawrence, acclaimed author of Orangeboy and other titles, becomes the new UK children’s laureate, aiming to expand access to reading for children who feel excluded or isolated. Drawing on her own experiences and influenced by writers such as Malorie Blackman and Jacqueline Wilson, she plans to gather evidence on how reading supports vulnerable groups, including children in care, refugees and children of prisoners. She highlights structural barriers such as library closures, high book costs and financial pressures on families, while challenging the narrative that children are disengaged from reading, noting strong enthusiasm in schools and community reading events across the UK.

Patrice Lawrence has been appointed the new Waterstones children’s laureate, emphasizing how shared reading can promote belonging and community during socially fragmented times. Known for award‑winning YA fiction, she aims to build evidence showing books’ impact on vulnerable children, including those in care and refugee communities. Her tenure will also spotlight the often overlooked individuals who support young readers. Supporters from BookTrust and Waterstones praised her influence in children’s literature, while her appointment follows Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s term focused on reading for pleasure.

Bad Girl Books, the UK’s first romantasy-focused bookshop, has opened in Oxford, attracting large crowds of predominantly young female fans drawn to the blend of romance and fantasy popularized on BookTok. Founded by Starlin Marot after her own discovery of the genre online, the shop offers a space for community and a wide range of titles beyond mainstream bestsellers. Readers and industry figures highlight the stigma romantasy faces due to sexism and its association with romance and commercial fantasy, despite its commercial success and significant social media influence. Supporters emphasize the genre’s appeal, which includes emotional depth, escapism and empowering portrayals of relationships, beyond its reputation for explicit content.

A study by education technology company Renaissance shows that boys aged 11 to 14 overwhelmingly read primary‑level titles such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, while girls engage with a broader range of authors and genres, including Heartstopper, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and The Hunger Games. Analysis of more than 23 million reading quizzes highlights growing divergence in reading habits by key stage 3, supported by National Literacy Trust data showing boys read far less in their free time. Experts warn that many boys become stuck or disengaged without exposure to new authors and more challenging books. The findings coincide with the government’s National Year of Reading campaign, which identifies teenage boys as a priority group for support.

Candice Carty-Williams reflects on the impact of her bestselling novel Queenie, the challenges of writing its sequel, and her difficult experience adapting the book for television. She discusses pressures surrounding representation, the publishing industry’s shifting commitment to diversity, and research into disparities in Black maternal healthcare. The author also describes her personal background, career path, and future creative ambitions, noting a desire to return to publishing and eventually revisit Queenie’s story again.

Lyse Doucet reflects on decades of reporting in Afghanistan and the inspiration behind her prizewinning book The Finest Hotel in Kabul, using the Intercontinental Hotel as a narrative lens to explore the country’s turbulent modern history. She highlights the worsening repression of women under Taliban rule, the dangers Afghans face for sharing their stories and the global obstacles preventing Afghan women from accessing education and visas abroad. Doucet emphasizes the accomplishments of the post-2001 generation, expresses concern over international engagement with the Taliban and underscores the resilience and hope that persist despite ongoing hardship.

Virginia Evans won the Women’s Prize for fiction for The Correspondent, while Lyse Doucet received the nonfiction award for The Finest Hotel in Kabul. Judges praised both works for originality, emotional impact and strong narrative craft. Additional shortlisted titles were highlighted across both categories, and the awards reinforced efforts to increase recognition of women in nonfiction writing.

Marjane Satrapi, the French-Iranian artist and creator of the graphic memoir Persepolis, has died at 56 following the loss of her husband last year. Tributes from French political and cultural figures highlighted her influence as an artist and advocate for women’s rights and freedom in Iran. Satrapi’s work, including Persepolis and later projects such as Woman, Life, Freedom, reshaped global perceptions of Iranian society and amplified voices opposing repression under the Islamic Republic. Her career spanned graphic novels and film, including the Oscar-nominated adaptation of Persepolis and the biopic Radioactive. Figures such as Emmanuel Macron, Margaret Atwood and Valérie Pécresse emphasized the lasting cultural and political significance of her work.

A critical assessment of Addie E Citchens’s novel Dominion highlights its portrayal of patriarchal violence within a prominent Mississippi church family, focusing on the destructive entitlement embodied by Wonderboy and the emotional toll on Priscilla and Diamond. The review praises the novel’s incisive depiction of religious hypocrisy, inherited gender roles and the cultural textures of semi‑rural Mississippi, noting its blend of brutality, humor and sharp social insight.

Meta’s ongoing legal action prevented whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams from speaking during a scheduled Hay festival event, leading her to remain silent onstage while Tim Wu and Carole Cadwalladr conducted the discussion. The restrictions stem from an emergency order limiting her ability to publicly discuss her memoir, which Meta disputes and claims she violates through public appearances. Hay festival temporarily withdrew her book from sale to avoid breaching the order, while speakers and audience members criticized the legal pressure as censorship and an abuse of corporate power.

Sajid Javid described his support for Liz Truss in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest as his greatest political mistake, speaking at the Hay festival while promoting his memoir. He criticised Tory MPs defecting to Reform and argued that the quality of UK politicians has declined, attributing this partly to voter choices. Javid advocated higher MP salaries and fewer MPs to attract higher‑calibre candidates. He reflected on his government career and noted his move into private equity and charitable work after leaving parliament.

Nicola Sturgeon rejected suggestions she bears responsibility for Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of SNP funds, emphasising her lack of knowledge of his actions and the disproportionate scrutiny she has faced. She described the betrayal by her estranged husband as deeply distressing and noted supportive messages from women in similar situations. Sturgeon criticised weaknesses within the progressive left, calling for politicians to stand firmly for their beliefs. She reflected on her experiences with recent UK prime ministers, expressing particular respect for Theresa May and strong disapproval of Boris Johnson’s approach to leadership.

Submissions have opened for the 10th annual 4thWrite short story prize, a competition for Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers in the UK and Ireland run by publisher 4th Estate and the Guardian. The winner receives £1,000, a publishing workshop and publication on the Guardian website, with shortlisted stories published by 4th Estate. Past participants have gone on to publish successful books. This year’s judging panel includes writers, agents, editors and previous finalist Gurnaik Johal. The prize is described by judges as a valuable platform for emerging writers. Deadlines include 19 June for submissions, with the winner announced in October in London.

Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translator Lin King discuss the political and cultural themes behind Taiwan Travelogue following their International Booker prize win. The novel examines Taiwanese identity, colonial history and queer relationships, while reflecting ongoing tensions with China. King emphasizes the importance of promoting diverse Taiwanese voices through translation, and both highlight Taiwan’s progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The book’s success has increased global and diaspora interest in Taiwanese literature and history.

A debut novel follows Barbados-born Lucinda Brown’s decades in Britain and the threat of deportation she faces during the Windrush scandal, contrasting her lived experience with the depersonalising logic of the state. The story interweaves her early life as a young immigrant in 1960s London with her family’s present‑day attempt to document her right to remain, highlighting strained relationships, political tensions and the fragility of belonging. The review praises the novel’s emotional depth, strong prose and nuanced portrayal of Caribbean immigrant life, noting minor shortcomings in character development while positioning the book as a significant literary account of the scandal.

Sasha Debevec-McKenney won the Swansea University Dylan Thomas prize for her debut poetry collection Joy Is My Middle Name, recognized by judges as an exuberant and intimate exploration of race, addiction, womanhood and life in early adulthood. Judges and reviewers praised the collection’s energy, humor and experimental style, while the shortlist included works by Harriet Armstrong, Colwill Brown, Suzannah V Evans, Seán Hewitt and Derek Owusu. The award highlights Debevec-McKenney’s rising prominence, following publications in major literary outlets and her fellowship at Emory University.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce urged policymakers to recognise children’s reading as a fundamental right, linking the decline in shared reading to poverty, housing insecurity and the impact of social media. New data from BookTrust shows daily shared reading has fallen, despite rising enthusiasm for reading among children. As part of the UK’s National Year of Reading, initiatives include the first Children’s Booker prize and large-scale book distribution. Cottrell-Boyce emphasised the emotional value of reading beyond literacy metrics and criticised tech platforms for consuming children’s attention, while maintaining optimism about community efforts to support reading.