BooksHarvard removes human skin binding from bookThe book, from the mid-1880s, was reportedly bound with the skin from the body of a female patient.See moreMore headlinesBook festival Aye Write cancelled due to lack of fundingA popular Glasgow book festival has been cancelled after being unsuccessful in its bid for funding.Glasgow & West ScotlandLibrary selling archived items to prevent decayArchive materials from Hove Library will be sold after a review found storage rooms were unsuitable.SussexWould you happily live your life in a simulation?Half a century ago, a philosopher imagined a world where we could fulfil our desires through a simulation like in The Matrix movie. He argued we'd prefer reality, but was he right?FutureAgatha Christie artefacts at crime novel exhibitionHer typewriter and first editions from other crime writers feature in a Cambridge exhibition.CambridgeshireThe TV cult of Big Little Lies’ Liane MoriartyApples Never Fall is no Big Little Lies — but it shows how author Liane Moriarty earned her prestige TV throne.CultureThe grim fairytale that continues to resonateThe old French folk story about a young bride and her monstrous husband is a harrowing fable that continues to inspire powerful modern adaptations, writes Lillian Crawford.CultureReviews33 of the best books of 2023From a reimagining of Orwell's 1984 to the story of Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentileschi, these are BBC Culture's picks of the best fiction of the year.See moreWatchStriking images of women in the Black Panther PartyStephen Shames' photography offers a radically new and candid picture of the militant black power organisation.BooksBraille: What is it like to read without sight?What happens to our brains when we learn to read Braille?BooksInside the abandoned city of ancient librariesThe African town of Chinguetti is home to a large collection of forgotten ancient books. BooksHow paper is making a comebackAs the world goes digital, paper might seem increasingly obsolete – but it is anything but.BooksPreserving the ancient art of handcrafting booksIn the digital age, the beautiful and ancient art of hand-binding books is under threat.BooksElizabeth Day: 'I felt so understood in the pages'When Elizabeth Day had a miscarriage, it was the words in a book from 1936 that helped her through it.BooksHow reading can help us cope with deathLisa Appignanesi describes how reading fiction helped her deal with bereavement.BooksMichael Rosen: 'How poetry helped me to grieve'When author Michael Rosen lost his son, he found inspiration to write again in a poem by Raymond Carver.BooksThe fiction that helped Laura Freeman recover from anorexiaHow a love of reading helped one woman recover from anorexia.BooksIs this Italy’s smallest library?One retired teacher is spreading the joy of books using his tiny mobile library.BooksThe man who lives in a library with no rulesNanie Guanlao turned his home into a library for his community in Manila.BooksThe ancient library where the books are under lock and keyStep inside the world’s largest surviving chained library.BooksBiblioburro: The amazing donkey libraries of ColombiaOne man and his loyal donkeys spreading the joy of books in Colombia.BooksFeatures The links between Taylor Swift and Emily DickinsonAs it's revealed that Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson might be related, what's the truth behind the myth of the 'tortured poet'?See moreThe Shakespeare play lost since 1603To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's First Folio, BBC Future investigates a mysterious vanishing – a play that has been missing for centuries.FutureThe dark side of Roald DahlRoald Dahl was an unpleasant man who wrote macabre books – and yet children around the world adore them. Perhaps this shouldn’t surprise us, writes Hephzibah Anderson.CultureNYC's eight best literary venuesFrom The Chelsea Hotel to The Algonquin to Albertine, NYC is full of famous literary hubs that have shaped the city's culture. Follow this guide to experience eight of the very best.TravelThe most beloved French writer everAn icon in her native France, Colette's scandalous life and works still captivate readers 150 years on from her birth, writes John Self.CultureThe greatest novel of the 20th Century?In Search of Lost Time broke with conventions when it was published in 1922. Considered daunting by many, it is actually universally appealing, writes Cath Pound.CultureThe stories that shaped UkraineThe history of Ukrainian literature reflects the country's tragic conflicts, its diverse population, and the people's distinctive humour, writes John Self.CultureWatchChildren 'excited' to have reached 500 Words finalThe young Londoners share the short stories that helped them receive an invite to Buckingham Palace.LondonI've received support from single mums - Towie starThe former Towie star has written a book about an elephant who is a single parent.EssexWATCH: Jason Allen-Paisant reads Self-Portrait as OthelloJamaican poet Jason Allen-Paisant reads from his TS Eliot Prize-winning book Self-Portrait as OthelloEntertainment & Arts'I love reading and writing with Braille'Two hundred years since the invention of Braille, Eryn Kirkpatrick says it gives her independence.Northern IrelandThe power of Benjamin Zephaniah's wordsAs tributes are paid to a "titan of literature", watch him perform some of his poetic works.UKWatch: The moment Paul Lynch wins 2023 Booker PrizeThe dystopian novel depicting an Ireland slipping into totalitarianism wins the prestigious award for the author.Entertainment & Arts'It's like I'm on an adventure'Libraries across London are offering an escape for children in the form of a summer reading challenge.LondonPublished schoolgirl, 9, inspiring classmates to writeA Walworth girl who wrote and published her first book last year is inspiring others to follow their dreams.LondonIan McEwan remembers 'tender, sweet' Martin AmisMcEwan pays tribute to his longtime friend and fellow author, following his death at the age of 73.Entertainment & Arts'I wrote my book in secret on the bus'Author Chris Carse Wilson tells how he wrote his first book in secret on his daily commute.ScotlandBook swap vending machine a hit with readersMore than 600 books have been swapped so far in the new scheme in Manchester.ManchesterShould Roald Dahl's books be changed?People in Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff Bay gave their views on the changes to the author's works.WalesHow 10-year-old's book is fighting water pollutionHenry Newman said he wrote his book after being inspired by a school project about water pollution.LondonThe books making African history accessible to kidsKunda Kids is a series of African history books for children which focus on real-life African historical figures.AfricaRoald Dahl fan, six, traces his steps in villageCarrie looks at the buildings and streets that influenced the writer of her favourite book, Matilda.Beds, Herts & BucksBooks, not snacks - new vending machine for schoolA primary school in Somerset brought in the machine to encourage its pupils to read.SomersetThis video has been removed for rights reasonsThis video has been removed for rights reasons.Entertainment & Arts'We want to help children see themselves in books'Two teenage sisters are trying to highlight a wider diversity of characters in children's books.NorthamptonMeet Book Bunk, the people restoring history in KenyaThe Book Bunk Trust is restoring library archives to help teach a new generation about Kenyan history.Africa'I've written a book about my brother's autism'Tabitha Jennings, 11, hopes her work will help other children to learn about the condition.Northern IrelandMore BooksPoet sought to 'celebrate' City of London bridgesThe poet-in-residence at The City Bridge Foundation will be paid £10,000 for the year-long role.LondonGlobal writers on Dylan Thomas Prize shortlistThe award of £20,000 is given to writers aged 39 and younger with "exceptional" talent. WalesRudyard Kipling poems to be read at former estateRudyard Kipling poetry is to be read in the gardens of his former Bateman’s estate in East Sussex.Sussex'Rare' unpublished Byron letter sells for £6,000The letter, from 1813, was found in a Gloucestershire house during a routine valuation day.GloucestershireGame of Thrones creators: Why we swapped dragons for aliens in new showThe creators of Game of Thrones on switching fantasy for sci-fi for their TV show, 3 Body Problem.Entertainment & ArtsShould adult Harry Potter fans 'grow up and get over it'?Fans of the wizarding world have denounced Miriam Margolyes, who said the franchise was for children.Entertainment & ArtsPaul Murray's The Bee Sting wins Nero book awardThe novel tells the story of a middle-class Irish family imploding against a background of crisis.Entertainment & ArtsBookshop named best in the north of EnglandWave of Nostalgia will now compete to become overall winner at the British Book Awards.BradfordOne Day author David Nicholls: 'I'm still in a daze'After the hit Netflix series, there's a very different adaptation of his debut novel Starter For Ten.Entertainment & Arts