Books

The Oxford of Inspector Morse: Dreaming spires, dead bodies... and lots and lots of pubs

The Oxford of Inspector Morse: Dreaming spires, dead bodies... and lots and lots of pubs.

In Focus: The hand-drawn maps from which JRR Tolkien launched Middle-earth

'I wisely started with a map and made the story fit,' JRR Tolkien once wrote. A new exhibition in Oxford – the writer's home for so many years – shows just how true that is, and offers a treasure trove for fans. Michael Murray-Fennell reports.

We recreated Three Men in a Boat for the 21st century. Here's what happened.

Re-creating Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat sounds terribly romantic, doesn’t it? Patrick Galbraith discovers the reality of a long skiff down the Thames.

90 years on, does Lady Chatterley's Lover still have the power to shock?

The story behind The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is almost as fascinating as the book itself

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has opened up the island’s charms to a new audience, finds Holly Kirkwood.

Jonathan Meades on Anthony Burgess: 'The encyclopedia in his head was like the internet'

Jonathan Meades reviews a new selection of Anthony Burgess’s literary journalism, gathered from previously uncollected reviews and essays from throughout his career.

The house which inspired The Darling Buds of May is on the open market for the first time in almost 90 years

The house which inspired H.E. Bates to write his most famous works – and which became world famous as the setting for The Darling Buds of May – is for sale. Penny Churchill reports.

E.H. Shepard's original map of the Hundred Acre Wood from Winnie-the-Pooh is up for auction

This delightful piece of literary and artistic history by E. H. Shepard is to be auctioned for the first time in half a century, with Sotheby's expecting it to go for well over £100,000.

The magnificent Kent home of the godfather of British children's illustrators

Penny Churchill takes a look at the former home of Randolph Caldecott, one of Britain's greatest-ever illustrators, which has come to the market in Kent.

Nursery rhymes: How murder, theft and fake news found their way into the tales we tell our children

Murder, animal cruelty and dishonesty aren’t generally considered child-friendly topics, yet they’re the basis of many much-loved nursery rhymes. Flora Watkins explains.

The greatest horse rides ever, as chronicled in a ‘unique treasury of horse and human wisdom’

Jon Hare takes a look at an exhaustive new book chronicling some of the greatest rides ever taken on horseback.

Jason Goodwin: 'We have books all over the floors and carpets on the furniture'

Our columnist Jason Goodwin talks about jam jars, duvets and the books which are taking over his house.

Jason Goodwin: How to spend 24 hours in London without spending a penny

Our columnist Jason Goodwin headed to London expecting to have to dig deep to keep himself and his wife entertained. Instead, even the thank-you present for his hosts didn't cost him a penny.

Nine of the best new crime thrillers for 2018, from Ruth Rendell to Anthony Horowitz

A collection of hitherto-undiscovered tales by the late Ruth Rendell plus the latest from Anthony Horowitz and Jessica Fellowes appear in Leslie Geddes-Brown's round-up of the latest thrillers in the bookshops.

David Attenborough's Zoo Quest Expeditions: The memoir of a young, madcap film maker

Sir David Attenborough's memoir of some of his earliest expeditions is endlessly charming – but it's the people rather than the animals who are the stars of the show, says Patrick Galbraith.

The story of the Oxfordshire house where Dylan Thomas wrote Under Milk Wood

The Manor House at South Leigh is where one of Britain's greatest 20th century poets produced one of his most famous works.

Charades: An exclusive Rebus short story for Country Life at Christmas, by Ian Rankin

John Rebus finds the truth behind a festive parlour game in this short story, written exclusively for Country Life by Ian Rankin.

The joys of farming in December: Winter sunshine, leaping sheep and hens who lay an extra Christmas present

Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of Cows, on sparing walnut trees, freeing sheep and a very special Christmas Day breakfast.

Autumn farming: Endless jobs, the pain of potatoes and the ram who made a break for freedom

Rosamund Young's fourth beautiful article for Country Life explores, potatoes, intelligent sheep and the accidental devastation of spiders' webs.

The last word on Capability Brown – but one which comes with a health warning

This book on Lancelot 'Capability' Brown by the greatest living expert on his work is like nothing else – but it comes with one or two caveats, as George Plumptre explains.