Julian Barnes' new book is, among many things, a family memoir, an exchange with his brother (a philosopher), a meditation on morality and the fear of death, a celebration of art, an argument with and about God, and homage to the French writer Jules Renard. Though he warns us that 'this is not my autobiography', the result is a tour of the mind of one of our most brilliant writers.

This is one of the defining novels of English writer Julian Barnes. An entertaining melange of stories starting with a contemporary account of the launch of Noah's Ark takes us into unexpected areas of human foibles, activities, and tendencies.

Julian Barnes' Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel is based on Arthur Conan Doyle's extraordinary real-life fight for justice. Arthur and George grow up worlds and miles apart in late nineteenth-century Britain: Arthur in shabby-genteel Edinburgh; George in the vicarage of a small Staffordshire village. Arthur becomes a doctor, and then a writer; George a solicitor in Birmingham. Arthur is to become one of the most famous men of his age; George remains in hardworking obscurity.

Julian Barnes' Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel is based on Arthur Conan Doyle's extraordinary real-life fight for justice. Arthur and George grow up worlds and miles apart in late nineteenth-century Britain: Arthur in shabby-genteel Edinburgh; George in the vicarage of a small Staffordshire village. Arthur becomes a doctor, and then a writer; George a solicitor in Birmingham. Arthur is to become one of the most famous men of his age; George remains in hardworking obscurity.

The sun always shines over England, England! With remarkable wit, acclaimed novelist Julian Barnes tells the story of an egotistical mogul and his vision of recreating all of England's attractions in one place. Now visitors can conveniently site-see everything from the Tower of London to Stonehenge in a single weekend. But what happens when fantasy and reality begin to blur?

"Over, Not Out", by Hendrik Hertzberg; "Virtual Iraq", by Sue Halpern; "Largo Nights", by Dana Goodyear; "East Wind", by Julian Barnes; "Idolatry", by Sasha Frere-Jones; and "The Unquiet Life", by David Denby.

"His Way" by Steve Coll; "Checking It Twice" by Lizzie Widdecombe; "The Gift Right Out" by James Surowiecki; "The Past Conditional" by Julian Barnes; "Demolition" by Louise Erdrich; and "Best and Brightest" by David Denby.