The prolific author Anthony Horowitz published the ninth and final Alex Rider children’s novel Scorpia Rising last week. The series is about a 14-year-old boy who is recruited to spy for MI6. Horowitz is already working on his next book, a new Sherlock Holmes novel that has the approval of the Conan Doyle Estate, which will be published in September. “I fell in love with Holmes stories when I was 16 and have read them many times since.” RGT
Birthdays today
Professor John Albery, Master of University College, Oxford, 1989-97, 75; Jane Asher, actress, 65; Sarah Baldock, organist and choral conductor, 36; Professor John Carey, literary scholar and critic, 77; Roger Corman, film director, 85; Agnetha Faltskog, singer, 61; Sir Thomas Finney, footballer, 89; Peter Greenaway, film director, 69; Denis Lawton, emeritus professor of education, University of London Institute of Education, 80; Dame Suzi Leather, chair, Charity Commission, 55; Janice Long, radio presenter, 56; Professor Donald Lynden-Bell, astronomer, 76; Jennifer Penney, senior principal, Royal Ballet, 1974-88, 65; General Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, 2001-05, 74; Dave Swarbrick, folk musician, 70.