Between the Covers: what's really going on in the world of books
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.David Mitchell was on fine form at his star-studded book launch last week - perhaps because this time, unlike last time, he wasn't late for his own party as a result of a volcano ash cloud. Mitchell pledged his authorial lifetime to his publisher, Sceptre, and thanked some fellow authors, many of whom had turned up: Kazuo Ishiguro (his friends call him "Ish"), Toby Litt, Jake Arnott ... even Mitchell's first publicist, Alexandra Heminsley - now an author too - came along. Mitchell also thanked his current publicist, who appears as a character in his new novel The Bone Clocks (left, and review page 18), and his thanks became increasingly profuse as his speech went on. His editor is a paragon of patience and genius; translators are "indirectly helping world peace".... And literary critics, apparently, are bastions of "objective wisdom". Well, that last bit is definitely true .…
Played in London (above), by Simon Inglis, has barely been published a week (English Heritage £25), but already it is responsible for the official listing by English Heritage of five new buildings. The book is "the culmination of eight years of research" and is described as "an encyclopaedia of sporting London". The buildings listed include a swimming pool in Bethnal Green, the Summer Pavilion at Beckenham Tennis Club, and a diving board at Purley Way Lido, Croydon (now in a garden centre). The buildings "help preserve the memories of glory, excitement, and innocent fun they have provided for so many", said heritage minister Ed Vaizey.
Ian McEwan put his literary career in the balance last week when he dared to criticise Amazon on Radio 4's Today programme. "I do worry about the preponderance of Amazon, and many publishers have been in direct conflict with it," he noted. "Giant monopolies are never good for any enterprise and of course I would like it to be paying its taxes like the rest of us." His new novel, The Children Act, is still for sale by the internet retailer, with the usual conditions and discount - unlike titles by Hachette authors, whose books were squeezed out by Amazon after their publisher criticised its tactics. So, has McEwan joined Donna Tartt on the short list of authors Amazon considers Too Big to Bully? If so, he really ought to start buying from proper bookshops that do pay their way.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments