Our choice of thebest recent books
YOUNG MR TURNER by Eric Shanes (Yale £85): an account of the artist’s first 40 years that puts previous biographies in the shade
THE BLACK DOOR by Richard J Aldrich and Rory Cormac (Wm Collins £30): this history of the relationship between PMs and the secret services deserves to be read very seriously
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HEDGEROW by John Wright (Profile £16.99): shows just how unique Britain’s hedgerows are
CUT by Hibo Wardere (Simon & Schuster £12.99): the author’s experiences of FGM make for harrowing but powerful reading
What’s happening in the literary world
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BRADFORD Bradford Literature Festival, May 20–29: with Tahmima Anam, Anita Anand, Rob Biddulph, Carol Ann Duffy, Ian Duhig, Mona Eltahawy, Petr Horacek, Nadiya Hussain, Marina Lewycka, Brian Talbot, Mary Talbot and Boyd Tonkin. For details, visit bradfordliteraturefestival.co.uk
LIVERPOOL Writing on the Wall Festival, May 1–28: talks and discussions with Kevin Barry, Owen Hatherley, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Ken Loach, Hollie McNish, Francesca Martinez, David Puttnam, Phil Redmond and Alexei Sayle. For more information, visit festival.writingonthewall.org.uk
CHARLESTON Charleston Festival, May 20–30: includes Joan Bakewell, Antony Beevor, Lara Feigel, Max Hastings, John Lahr, Ian McEwan, Max Porter, Graham Swift and Rose Tremain. Visit charleston.org.uk for details
LONDON Life Class: Alexander Masters and Juliet Nicolson discuss the art of writing biography, at The Bedford in Balham, Bedford Hill, SW12, May 12, 7pm, £6 (020 8670 1920)
LONDON Greenwich Book Festival, May 27–28: with Chris Cleave, Tristan Gooley, Chloe Inkpen, Brix Smith Start and Bee Wilson. More at greenwichbookfest.com