It's official: Harry Potter and The Cursed Child Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling is the fastest-selling book in almost a decade.  

David Owen's crime novel has colour, gore and giggles in Down Under's nether region.

Spurred by the milestone of 50 years since Waugh's death, Eade launches into this confounding, crowded, complicated life with brio.

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton's book breaks record on first day of release.

We don't realise what a new thing it is to have bookshops full of books by Australians, about Australia, writes acclaimed author Kate Grenville.

Canberra musician and diplomat Fred Smith has written a memoir about his time in Afghanistan, writes Sally Pryor

Festival shines through the rain; 100 classics in print and postcards

You'd like to be in James Patterson's shoes given that his earnings top $125 million a year.

White always acknowledged the centrality of youth and beauty in the gay world but in Our Young Man – as Colette used to refer to Proust – he goes a step further.

The British crossword puzzle has long had a hint of cucumber sandwich, with occasional clues possessing a lilt of Morris dancing

Even 50 years on, the memories of the veterans remain very vivid.

In researching her biography of Daniel Mannix, the Archbishop of Melbourne for 46 years, Brenda Niall was surprised to find how liberal his views were.

There are more people wanting to be authors than ever before, thanks to the internet. Our best writers tell us how to be better at it in a raft of new books.

Bringing Begbie back in The Blade Artist is akin to the episode of Happy Days when Fonz takes up ballet to impress a girl.

Liane Moriarty is on top for a second week but figures later this week should see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child take over top spot

Jemma Birrell, the artistic director of Sydney Writers' Festival, will step aside at the end of this year.

Stand-up comedian Jessi Klein's book is more or less a collection of skits.

Giving up meat for 12 months let Richard Cornish see the world very differently.

Tim Locks decided he had to do his bit against Daesh so he sold up in Britain and took himself off to war.

Lucy Palmer alerts us to the beautiful truth that can be found in death and the beauty of life.

To some it seems a dream job. But to others writing is as stressful as it gets. That's why writers need self-care.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child sold more than 680,000 print copies in the UK in three days, publisher Little, Brown Book Group said on Wednesday.

Finland has free education, no private schools, and no NAPLAN. It is top of the OECD league tables in education. A contrast with Australia as we lurch toward an ever-more stratified system.

There's a good deal more talk about the art than in previous biographies; more about the ideas Brett Whiteley invested in his works.