Maria McCann talks about The Wildling

In her second novel Maria McCann returns to 17th-century England, where life is struggling to return to normal after the horrific tumult of the Civil War. Here, she talks to George Miller about the book.

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The Richard T. Kelly Column: Fit to Wear the Shirt – In praise of quality football books

This month, Richard T. Kelly examines the phenomenon of football publishing and the different types of books that it gives rise to, as well as explaining why he won’t be cheering for England at the forthcoming World Cup.

The Booklist: World Cup Fever

As the World Cup rapidly approaches, if you want more from your football reading than a sticker book can offer you, then look no further than this selection of titles.

Read the prologue to The Temptress

In Kenya’s ‘Happy Valley’ in the years spanning the 1920s to the 1940s no one paid too much attention to the privileged colonial set as they farmed their estates, partied until dawn and indulged in extra-marital affairs. Not until Josslyn Hay, Earl of Erroll, was shot dead at the wheel of his Buick in the early hours of 24 January 1941.

May Reading Groups Round-Up

Looking for inspiration for books to read with your book group or reading circle? Here we present a selection of titles for which reading groups are available.

Nick Kent on Apathy for the Devil

Legendary NME rock journalist Nick Kent discusses his memoir of the 70s, Apathy for the Devil, which features his encounters with the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Chrissy Hynde, David Bowie and the Sex Pistols.

The Round-up: People’s Lives

From America to China via the Sudan and Kenya, from stage and screen to science and literature, here are fifteen of the very best and most intriguing biographies and memoirs you could hope for, all from the Bookhugger publishers…

Andrew O’Hagan: The Book That…

With his new novel (narrated by Marilyn Monroe’s dog) making quite a splash, we find out what books have made a lasting impression on Andrew O’Hagan.

Listen to James Shapiro talk about Contested Will

In his new book Contested Will James Shapiro investigates one of literature’s great mysteries – did Shakespeare actually write what we think he wrote? George Miller talked to him about this controversial topic.

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May non-fiction round-up

The latest new non-fiction from our publishers covers such diverse topics as Russian criminal codes of honour, a new look at Charless II, and a whole load of sport, including football, cricket and golf!

The May Competition [closed]

In our great new competition, three lucky winners will each win five great new books – answer a few simple questions to be in with a chance.

Mick Jackson answers questions about The Widow’s Tale

In an interview conducted for the Norwich Summer Reads campaign, Mick Jackson talks about his latest novel, his writing approach and the art of fiction.

May contemporary fiction round-up

Summer’s just about in full-swing, so here are some of Bookhugger’s recommendations for those preparing to arm themselves with reading material for a warm afternoon in the sun.

Understanding Africa, with Africa United

A superb portrait of the divided continent of Africa, told through one of the few things that unites it: football.

Robert Williams on writing a first novel

Robert Williams is the author of Luke and Jon, an arresting debut about friendship, grief and love, and winner of the National Book Tokens’ NYP Prize.

The birth of The White Woman on a Green Bicycle, by Monique Roffey

Monique Roffey was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and educated in the UK – here she talks about the inspiration for her latest novel, recently shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction.

How to make the fabric of the universe

Libby Miller, a character in Scarlett Thomas’s new novel Our Tragic Universe, exclusively reveals a very special knitting pattern…

Twelve copies of David Mitchell’s new novel to be won [closed]

We’ve already brought you a trailer and the first chapter of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet, now we have a chance for twelve lucky Bookhuggers to win a copy.

You are here…

Learn more about your place in the great chain of being with this fantastic animation to celebrate the paperback release of Christopher Potter’s You Are Here. From the nucleii of your cells to the vastness of the universe, this will put you in your place!

Muriel Barbery talks about The Gourmet

Muriel Barbery is the best-selling author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog and The Gourmet. In this interview, the media-shy Frenchwoman reveals to Jennifer Whitehead the joy she took in writing The Gourmet; the shadow Marcel Proust casts over French literature; and why she won’t tell us about her most memorable meal.

Siberian education, according to Nicolai Lilin

Nicolai Lilin was born in 1981 and grew up in the small republic of Transnistria which declared its independence from Moldova in 1990 but has never been recognised. In this video, Lilin tells us more about his experiences in Siberian Education, his memoir of growing up in a society of ‘honest criminals’.

Take the kids on a visit to Grubtown

Faber and Faber have launched ‘Visit Grubtown’ (www.visitgrubtown.com), an exciting new online home for Philip Ardagh’s Roald Dahl Funny Prize-winning Grubtown Tales series, drawing on the weird and wonderful characters and settings from all six Grubtown books.