Pages & Proofs

Happy birthday to John Buchan, or the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir to give him his formal title, who was born on this day in 1875. The man who wrote The Thirty-Nine Steps was a multi-tasker – he was an author of fiction, a historian, a politician, a diplomat and briefly a lawyer. Enjoy our celebration of […]

Each each the BookFinder.com report highlights the most sought-after out-of-print books in the United States. The Reluctant King by Sarah Bradford is just one of the fine books featured on this year’s list. And, yes, Madonna’s Sex is once again at the top of the list of books. See the list.

Marjorie wanted some recommendations for unusual cookbooks to give to her finance, so we came up trumps in the first episode of Ask AbeBooks.

NASA has announced that the Mars Curiosity landing site is to be called Bradbury Landing in honour of science fiction legend Ray Bradbury. Of course, The Martian Chronicles are one of Bradbury’s most famous works. Curiosity’s Twitter account said: “In tribute, I dedicate my landing spot on Mars to you, Ray Bradbury. Greetings from Bradbury […]

Take a look at this handsome limited edition of The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, winner of the 2012 Orange Prize. Just 500 copies were issued by Bloomsbury and they are all signed by Miller.

JK Rowling will make a solitary appearance in the States to promote The Casual Vacancy. She’ll appear at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center on October 16. The venue can seat about 1,100 people and the author will sign copies of her new book for each audience member. Ann Patchett will host the show, ask […]

Nina Bawden, the author of Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig and more than 40 other novels, has died at the age of 87.  The BBC carries the news. Bawden is well regarded for successfully writing for adults and children – a skill few possess. Published in 1973, Carrie’s War was based on Bawden’s World War […]

Emma Watson continues her life away from Harry Potter and was the cover girl for the New York Times Style Magazine at the weekend. The Brown University student (with $40 million in the bank) has just finished a year studying at Oxford University while also continuing to act.

Ian McEwan’s new book, Sweet Tooth, is published today. It’s a spying-themed mystery set in the 1970s. The Guardian has printed an extract to give you a taste of the novel. The Observer also interviewed the author at the weekend and he speaks about the importance of the 1970s in his personal development. (The lady […]

Nick Hornby, that diehard support of Arsenal, has played down the impact of Fever Pitch in an essay at the Daily Telegraph and claims that many other forces attracted the middle classes to football. He blames the Hillsborough tragedy and Rupert Murdoch’s Sky TV. I have read, more than once, another account of those years, […]