Set in Ukraine in 2014, Sergei Lebedev’s novel explores continuities of state control and suppression
The inner life of Toon Tellegen’s very anxious hedgehog delivers a cosy philosophy to an audience of all ages
A dive into the lives of the storyteller brothers tells how the pair made their way to literary fame
From war and tech, to biographies on Taylor Swift, the Pope and Bill Gates — plus new fiction from Adam Haslett and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a preview of some of the titles to look out for in the coming year
This spellbinding 1948 tale of ‘dissatisfied women, malicious women and jealous women’ can now be enjoyed by English-speaking readers
A lesser-known work by the 19th-century Russian novelist is enjoying a sales boom driven by TikTok. What’s that all about?
I’ve set up a screen-free reading corner, with a ‘comfort stack’ of books that offer nothing but indulgence
Documentary-maker Julian Evans rekindles a 30-year romance with the country and finds warmth in desperate circumstances
How Wagner’s Ring Cycle shaped the music of Star Wars and more; a sobering dive into the silliness and manipulation central to ‘reality’ TV; an enjoyable ride through 200 years of British rail history; a debut set amid the violence of 1970s Argentina; a belated translation of a 1978 literary novel from Central America — plus Boyd Tonkin on 1925 and all that
Fog disrupts a film crew trying to record a diver’s deep descent without air — written exclusively for the FT by the acclaimed author of ‘Sisters’ and ‘Everything Under’
An exploration of the history and legacy of this manipulative genre manages to navigate the silly and the serious
Michael Downes’ Story of the Century dives into the making of the composer’s monumental and controversial work
Listen to the winner of the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year
The writer found fitness – and herself – in a spin class
If we focus more on what’s going on around us, we may end up feeling better about things
The right-wing ideology is no longer confined to the dark underbelly of history
The dopamine hit of smartphone scrolling makes reading a book feel more effortful — but the rewards are worth the extra effort
HTSI writers choose the best tables, exhibitions, shopping and wellness destinations to start the year
From ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Mrs Dalloway’ to ‘The Trial’: the trailblazing works of that year’s literary gold rush remain vivid and influential today
Professionals pick the titles that reveal aspects to their work outsiders rarely see
Pola Oloixarac’s debut novel is an ambitious, if flawed, attempt to process political brutality through philosophy
Augusto Monterroso’s playful tale of a writer in search of a lasting legacy takes aim at the literary establishment
Simon Bradley steams through 200 years of British train history in this enjoyable survey of railway milestones
The Hitler diaries that he claimed to have unearthed were crude forgeries
Basquiat and Switzerland, Denzil Forrester’s journeys into dub, and more
The historian unearths a rich trove of artefacts and records to tell the tale of the ordinary lives of Vikings
From Joyce to 21st-century feminism to a new on-screen reimagining: why this millennia-old poem and its complicated hero continue to inspire
The moral philosopher’s account of the short brutal life of factory-farmed fowl is more just than a vegan polemic
Alejandro Zambra explores the ups and downs of fatherhood in this collection of essays, poems and stories
Our favourite literary duo Fred Studemann and Laura Battle join us for one last big books of the year audio round-up
Two books, by Will Eaves and Simon Critchley, explore how we can broaden our minds through religion, mysticism or music
Fredric Jameson’s enthralling survey emphasises context and considers the impact of European ideas on the US culture wars of today
David Safier’s new crime series grants the former German chancellor a lively post-leadership twilight as a super sleuth
Author of FT and Schroders prizewinning ‘Supremacy’ stresses importance of oversight of new technology
Eva Menasse’s sprawling bestseller, set in the run-up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, confronts a nation with its murky past
These cynical domestic horror stories by the Guinness heiress seem to speak to a contemporary mindset
A selection of some of the best titles shedding light on the conflict and its place in the wider power struggles across the Middle East
