BooksAre hardback books things of 'great beauty' or a dying art?Readers, publishers, shops and libraries share their thoughts on the hardback's future.See moreMore headlines'I didn't think it could happen': Gisele Pelicot on how she found love againThe French rape survivor tells a UK arts festival how she has learned to trust again after her ordeal.10 of the best books of 2026 so farFrom a darkly comic tale of revenge to a beautiful contemplation on friendship, here are the year's most acclaimed works of fiction so far.Fantastical snails on display for the first timeThe book Snails for All by Edward Bawden will be on show alongside work created by schoolchildren.The 'raucous' debut novel set entirely on one epic night outSufiyaan Salam has won an award from Stormzy, been nominated for a Bafta and made a video for Elton John.WAtchJohn Grisham on why he still writes as trends shiftThe bestselling author on what new data reveals about America’s steep decline in reading for pleasure.BooksWhy Cher has waited until now to write her memoirCher explains why she has finally written her memoir and who it's for.BooksStriking images of women in the Black Panther PartyStephen Shames' photography offers a radically new and candid picture of the militant black power organisation.BooksBraille: What is it like to read without sight?What happens to our brains when we learn to read Braille?BooksInside the abandoned city of ancient librariesThe African town of Chinguetti is home to a large collection of forgotten ancient books. BooksHow paper is making a comebackAs the world goes digital, paper might seem increasingly obsolete – but it is anything but.Books