Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey is the second stage of The Austen Project, for which four writers have been invited to produce a contemporary version of a Jane Austen novel.

Don Brash devotes all of three paragraphs to the Exclusive Brethren in his 330-page autobiography despite his dealings with the Church.

No continent is left out in this roll call of diverse and wonderful sites.

On December 19, 1910, a few months after the publication of Howard's End, E. M. Forster began sketching out the plan for a new novel.

When Carole Beu opened the Women’s Bookshop 25 years ago, she didn’t realise she would be creating something much bigger than a retail space, writes Linda Herrick.

A Massey University author was surprised to hear Prince George would be getting his book as a memento when his parents visit Cambridge next weekend.

A Lorde figurine performing atop three circular cakes to depict The Lord of the Rings was among creative entries for a Canterbury edible story-telling competition.

Nicky Pellegrino is a novelist and former magazine editor who moved to New Zealand for love.

David Larsen discovers the intriguing backstory behind cartoonist Michael Leunig’s whimsical birds

I had to buy a book recently. It hurt. Much as I love books, my financially sensible self would rather get them from the library or stock up on a few good novels at the school fair at $2 to $3 each.

Hyperbole often surrounds big novels, especially big novels from New York about New York and by New Yorkers, but in Gilbert's case it is all justified.

American novelist Gary Shteyngart tells Alexander Bisley why he likes to combine hilarity, sadness and introspection.

Whatever you're doing this Monday, wherever you might be, take a moment to reflect on the most popular word in the English language, OK?

A new book charts Abba’s progress from camp 70s novelty act to enduring musical phenomenon. Anna Tyzack meets one of the famous four, Bjorn Ulvaeus.

Could Britain have avoided World War I? Historians Max Hastings and Niall Ferguson have presented rival views on the BBC.

Linda Herrick surveys the wealth of names coming to Auckland’s Writers Festival in May.

An Arabic scene of dunes and camels was the backdrop for a diverse literary event, writes Linda Herrick.

Divergent, the latest young adult novel poised to become a blockbuster movie, meets all the criteria for the genre.

Imagine a world in which the advances of the science since the publication of 'On the Origin of Species' - or even since Charles Darwin was born - were ignored.

For sale: hexagonal house in quiet position near top white-baiting lagoon in the heart of the South Island's West Coast.

A little-known Kiwi author is pinching herself after landing a seven-figure advance and a lucrative film deal for her new book.

Nearly 200 years after her death, Jane Austen has become one of the most widely read authors in history. Kerrie Waterworth finds out why she continues to appeal, generation after generation.