Books

It’s been 26 years since the One Piece manga began and six since its live-action adaptation was announced at Netflix. Author Eiichiro Oda is an executive producer on the show, which debuts on the streaming service this Thursday. Earlier this year the creator confessed to “frustrating” moments during production of …

The nation has obsessed with The Arches for over 70 years (Image: Getty) It’s the world’s longest-running drama, created way before most of its audience were born, and still going strong today. Such is the pulling-power of The Archers that everybody – from Queen Camilla to Rylan Clark – listens …

He’s the 10th best-selling fiction author in the history of the world, with over 500 million sales globally for his One Piece manga. Now over 25 years on since he started, Eiichiro Oda is penning the final part of the most popular comic by volume ever. As the 48-year-old embarks …

This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read. Written by novelist John Niven, it begins on the day in August 2010 when he was told that his 42-year-old brother Gary was in a coma. Gary had been admitted to hospital after self-harming. Then, left in a room …

One Piece is a global phenomenon but has had only a niche impact on popular culture in the UK. This is surprising given that the ongoing Japanese comic is the world’s best-selling manga and the best-selling comic by volume ever with over 500 million copies sold worldwide In fact, the …

Frederick Forsyth and the novel that made him a star (Image: Getty) I was not long out of school and working on my third unpublished novel when The Day Of The Jackal came out in 1971. It was serialised in the Daily Express and I remember reading the first chapter …

Frederick Forsyth gained fame with The Day of the Jackal, published in 1971 (Image: GETTY) Frederick Forsyth would tell you he got a lucky break with the blockbuster story that made him a household name around the world, but don’t you believe it. Forsyth, who is calling time on his …

He may be best known for a fictional detective haunted by the disappearance of his wife, but dognapping rather than kidnapping drives Peter James’ latest book. The best-selling author will talk about the “horrific” rise in dog thefts alongside an RSPCA officer at a book festival in London. The creator …

James Hanratty (Image: Handout) James Hanratty walked the few steps from his condemned cell to the gallows just across the prison landing. A hood was draped over his head, and a noose slipped around his neck. Executioner Harry Allen pulled the lever, sending the 25-year-old Londoner plunging eight feet. Minutes …

A top children’s author has waded into the woke book editing row that’s seen favourite kids’ stories revised to avoid offending people. Dame Jacqueline Wilson has revealed that she is “very against” editing classic text so that they fit with a more woke agenda and the sensitivities of modern audiences. …