Tom Holland on why Lord of the Rings is the greatest historical novel

Sheila Hancock on the importance of the arts

Sheila Hancock: John was more like The Sweeney than Morse

Sheila Hancock on idealism

Oxfam's Mark Goldring calls for a new Magna Carta

Robert Macfarlane on an extraordinary coincidence

Tom Holland: The challenge of writing about periods before the modern novel

Sandi Toksvig on the need for equal representation for women

Germaine Greer: If the English are sane it's because their national playwright is Shakespeare

Irvine Welsh on 'Juice' Terry Lawson from A Decent Ride

John Boyne: The first review called it a novel of blush-making vulgarity

Karen Armstrong: Freedom was only for selected privileged Europeans

Tenor Ian Bostridge on inspirational pictures and hurdy-gurdy music