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CJ Sansom, author of the Shardlake novels, dies aged 71
CJ Sansom, the bestselling author of Dissolution, Winter in Madrid and Dominion has died aged 71, having been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable cancer that affects bone marrow, in 2012. His publisher confirmed the news, noting that Sansom died on 27 April, just days before Shardlake, the TV adaptation of Dissolution starring…
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Who is Basim Khandaqji? Imprisoned Palestinian author and winner of literature award
Basim Khandaqji has been named the winner of the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his 2023 novel A Mask, the Colour of the Sky. Born in Nablus, Palestine, in 1983, Khandaqji studied journalism and media at An-Najah National University in the northern West Bank. He has been in Israeli prison since 2004, when…
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Why Classic Literature Still Matters in the 21st Century
Why Classic Literature Still Matters in the 21st Century (Picture Credit – Instagram) In an age dominated by digital media and contemporary storytelling, one might wonder why classic literature remains an essential part of educational curriculums and continues to be revered by readers worldwide. With its rich narratives and complex characters, classic literature holds a…
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Why is France’s National Library putting four books in quarantine?
Four books have been quarantined in the National Library of France. Here’s why. Warning: Spoilers for the book and film ‘The Name of the Rose’. ADVERTISEMENT Remember Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film The Name of the Rose, based on Umberto Eco’s historical mystery novel of the same name? In it, a Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (Sean…
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Agatha Christie Books, Ranked And In Order
British writer Agatha Christie has been hailed as “the greatest mystery writer of all time” and the “Queen of Mystery.” It’s unlikely any other serious crime writer has published more classic novels since the First World War, certainly not 74 of them, 66 of which were detective novels. Christie published her first novel, The Mysterious…
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Celebrating Literature: A Reading Marathon At The Central Public Library
The Minister for the Arts, Owen Bonnici, attended the Reading Marathon at the Central Public Library in Floriana. This marathon was organised as part of the programme of activities related to the week dedicated to libraries, which coincides with World Book and Copyright Day. The minister praised this initiative in favour of reading, emphasising that…
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Twenty of the best Arabic novels that are available in English
Trying to describe the characteristics of a “typical” Arabic novel is an overly ambitious task. The many countries and cultures that make up the region are impossible to generalise, and the minds that make up its healthy literary diaspora are individual. However, if it’s not definition you seek but recommendation, look no further than the…
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Audacious, stimulating and ‘utterly bonkers’: Siang Lu, the thrilling new face of Australian literature
Siang Lu’s writing is the work of a curious mind at play. His labyrinthine novels take the reader on wild rides as disparate threads collide in surprising, sometimes unhinged ways. When I imagine him writing them, I picture the meme of Charlie Day, maniacally connecting thoughts together with strings on a board. “The meme is…
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23 Indie Presses to Support After the Close of Small Press Distribution
On March 28, Small Press Distribution (SPD), the 55-year old company that helped 385 indie publishers deliver their books to customers, collapsed without warning. This is an existential blow in a business where finances are delicate at the best of times. Books remain stranded in warehouses and could take months to be recovered, past income…
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Electric Literature’s Favorite Indie Bookstores
Whenever I travel to a new city, my favorite way to get to know the community is to venture into local bookstores. Anything from feminist shops that highlight writers of color to bookstore/cafe hybrids, I never quite know what I’m walking into, and that buzz of excitement never gets old. Last year, we shared some…
