1 week ago What we’re reading: Alan Hollinghurst, Samantha Harvey and Guardian readers on the books they enjoyed in December

Writers and Guardian readers discuss the titles they have read over the last month. Join the conversation in the commentsEver since my father presented me with a copy of The Unicorn, beautifully translated into my mother tongue, I have been an ardent admirer of Iris Murdoch’s. I went on to read all of her novels, plays and poetry with great enthusiasm. Before Christmas, I returned to her penultimate novel, The Green Knight, having remembered very little of it. Yet from the very first page, I was reminded why I have always loved her work so deeply: the prose is rich, precise, disciplined and meticulously detailed; the many characters are so vividly rendered that none appears two-dimensional; each experiences and processes reality in a way that feels distinct and unmistakably individual; and the pacing of events feels perfectly judged. Although the novel is threaded with philosophical reflections on goodness and love, these never feel laboured or artificially imposed. Rather, they eme...

Politics

1 week ago Deeply cynical truth that blows apart Timothee Chalamet's declaration of love for Kylie Jenner at Critics Choice Awards as insiders reveal their shock conversation about having CHILDREN

Timothee Chalamet's public declaration of love for Kylie Jenner undoubtedly stole the show at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday. A word of caution, however...

Events

2 w. ago Fatal crash victim pictured as family pay tribute 'with broken hearts'

Suzanne Wilmot, 60, from Gloucester, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of a horror collision in Gloucestershire - and has been remembered as a 'deeply loved mum'

Events

2 w. ago New Year open water swimmers warned about risks after Christmas Day disappearances

Two men went missing after going for a swim in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, on Christmas Day

Events

2 w. ago Tributes to antiques dealer who went missing during Christmas Day swim while trying to help woman

Locals paid tribute to Matthew Upham on Monday, saying he was ‘a valued and upstanding member of the Budleigh Salterton community’

Economics

2 w. ago Kate Bush 'heartbroken' after friend goes missing during Christmas Day swim

Kate Bush said she was heartbroken after the disappearance of 63-year-old antiques dealer Matthew Upham, who was one of two swimmers who went missing in the sea in Devon on Christmas Day

Events

2 w. ago Kate Bush ‘heartbroken’ as friend remains missing after Christmas Day swim

Antiques dealer Matthew Upham is still unaccounted for following an incident in the Devon seaside town of Budleigh Salterton.

Events

2 w. ago Kate Bush pays tribute to antiques dealer who is feared to have drowned on Christmas Day swim and says he 'lived life to the full'

Antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 63, had gone to the beach with friends on the morning of December 25 off the coast of Budleigh Salterton in Devon.

Economics

2 w. ago Kate Bush reveals she is heartbroken after 'dear friend' missing in Christmas Day swim

British pop icon Kate Bush said antiques dealer Matthew Upham would be 'deeply loved and forever missed' after he went missing following the Christmas Day swim at Budleigh Salterton, Devon

Events

3 w. ago Budleigh Salterton Christmas Day missing swimmer was 'trying to save woman'

Antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 63, is missing along with another man after they went into the water at the Devon seaside town of Budleigh Salterton on Christmas Day

Events

3 w. ago Budleigh Salterton: 'Beloved' swimmer who vanished on Christmas Day pictured

The family of Matthew Upham, 63, one of two men missing after the Christmas Day swim at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, said he is 'deeply loved' and 'will be forever missed'

Politics

3 w. ago How a joyful Christmas Day swim on Devon’s Jurassic coast ended in tragedy with two swept out to sea

‘Beloved’ antique dealer Matthew Upham and another swimmer were swept away at Budleigh Salterton on Christmas Day

Politics

3 w. ago Christmas Day swim survivor says ‘it was a mistake to get in’ as two feared dead

Mike Brown, 60, said conditions in Budleigh Salterton ‘worse he’d seen’ in three decades

Events

3 w. ago Swimmer describes 'worst conditions ever' as two remain missing after Christmas swim

Two men remain missing after getting into difficulty during a Christmas Day swim where witnesses reported 6ft waves and 65mph winds

Events

3 w. ago Christmas Day swim survivor says 'it was a mistake to get in' after he was rescued from 'worst ever conditions' in festive event believed to have killed two

Two people are believed to have been killed after disaster struck during the annual event off the coast of Budleigh Salterton in Devon on Thursday.

Events

3 w. ago Christmas Day swim survivor was rescued from 6ft waves as two lost in sea tragedy

A festive swimming tradition turned to tragedy when two men went missing at sea during a Christmas Day swim at Budleigh Salterton

Events

3 w. ago Budleigh Salterton Christmas Day swimmer ALIVE after being saved by brave bystanders

Mike Brown, 60, was saved from crashing waves at a traditional Christmas Day swim in Devon - two men are still missing after the horror conditions

Politics

3 w. ago BBC Breakfast hosts announce tragic news as family pay heartbreaking tribute

BBC Breakfast hosts Charlie Stayt and Emma Vardy shared tributes to missing swimmer Matthew Upham after police called off the search for two men following a Christmas Day swim

Events

3 w. ago BBC Breakfast host opens show with tragic news announcement as tributes pour in

BBC Breakfast hosts Charlie Stayt and Emma Vardy shared tributes to missing swimmer Matthew Upham after police called off the search for two men following a Christmas Day swim in East Devon

Events

3 w. ago Family pay tribute to ‘deeply loved’ antiques dealer who went missing during Christmas Day swim in Devon

Matthew Upham’s family say he is ‘deeply loved’ and will be ‘forever missed’

Economics