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Lydia Davis is known for her minimalist fiction – “economy, precision and originality” is how the author Ali Smith once described her style. Her shortest story, Index Entry, amounts to just four words:

Every autumn, the UK participates in an astonishing commemorative practice: the annual charity drive of the Poppy Appeal. From its origins during the first world war to the purple poppy commemorating animals in wartime, the artificial poppy has become a fragile but enduring symbol of remembrance.

An open letter signed by more than 50 authors including Zadie Smith, Ali Smith and Katherine Rundell calls for investment firm Baillie Gifford to be dropped as main sponsor for 2024

Kicking off our new monthly series about emotions in literature, Sophie Ratcliffe finds the best literary descriptions of hopefulness

A magistrate for nearly 30 years, David Rose describes the feeling of exclusion after not being able to enter certain legal buildings

Four people who lost loved ones recall the chaos of the response – and share why they think Britain was so unprepared

Booker-longlisted in 2018 for their debut novel, In Our Mad and Furious City, the Londoner talks about the follow-up, the slippery life story of a terror suspect, and the fellowship of Ali Smith during a time of stress

Sporle pub, which opened after a renovation under its new name in January, hopes to get a visit from its namesake

Mid Suffolk will become first majority-controlled Green council in UK if party wins at least five more seats