There’s something for everyone on the bookshelf this Christmas! The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory For fans of the Tudors, bestselling author Philippa Gregory continues her series The Cousins’ War, withThe Lady of the Rivers; the fascinating tale of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford. Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta has always had […]

Creative people are less honest than those with less active imaginations, a new study has claimed. Research published by the American Psychological Association found that creative-minded people were far more likely to cheat and behave unethically, possibly because their greater imagination allowed them to rationalise their actions. “Greater creativity helps individuals solve difficult tasks across […]

Pippa Middleton has been looking miserable since she split from her boyfriend earlier this month, but a new mystery man put a smile back on her face last night. ‘Her Royal Hotness’ attended the final of the ATP World Tour tennis tournament in London with two unidentified male friends. Roger Federer played a sizzling game […]

Ravaged by years of alcoholism, Gale Lamont was at rock bottom when she started a very special choir that ended up saving her life. Three years ago, Gale Lamont spent Christmas alone in a darkened room, surrounded by empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays. Her 50th birthday was just a month away. She had been trying […]

Parents who claim they love all their children equally are lying, a new book has sensationally claimed. Author and father of two Jeffrey Kluger’s new book The Sibling Effect: What Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us claims that all parents have a favourite child, no matter how much they deny it. “Ninety-five percent […]

Win our Book of the Month Be one of the first 25 people to sign up to the Simon & Schuster newsletter and correctly answer the competition question to win a free copy of The Dovekeepers! Alice Hoffman is one of the most popular and memorable writers of her generation, the author of such iconic […]

Millions of women swooned when he played Mr Darcy, but Colin Firth is uncomfortable with the sex symbol tag. He would rather be known as a clown, a dad and a henpecked husband, he tells Susan Chenery. Well, he still seems like the same old reliable Colin. Looking good, always affable. Still not taking himself […]

Keira Knightley asked for an agent when she was three, starred in a Hollywood blockbuster at 17 and earned an Oscar nomination at 20. Yet, as tells Susan Chenery, self-confidence is a “big problem” for her. In this gilded room, with its Gothic arches, painted ceiling, wood panelling and balustraded balconies, there would once have […]

Her son Banjo misses the beach and catching leatherjackets. So Rachel Griffiths’ plan is to pack up, leave Broadway behind and make a new life in Australia. Sharon Krum meets the superstar mum. When Rachel Griffiths started her acting career in the Victorian community theatre group Woolly Jumpers, she could only dream of her Broadway […]

Little girls love pink — or do they? Peggy Orenstein looks at the influence of marketing and asks whether girls are born wanting to be princesses or have had princesshood thrust upon them. Here is my dirty little secret: as a journalist, I have spent nearly two decades writing about girls, thinking about girls, talking […]