In his new book, English professor Michael Drout delves into Tolkien’s life and work while reminiscing about his own father ...

It's not often that "thinking inside the box," is lauded as a winning strategy. But for spoken word poet Henry Morray, it won Slamovision's 2025 international slam poetry competition.

When I’m writing a metaphor, I always want to compare the natural world to something manmade, and vice versa. Diamonds on ...

A melancholy December vision in Liverpool invokes a Dickensian ghost with more worldly but still warm realism ...

Reading to someone, or being read to, is a beautiful, intimate act. It is a comforting balm against the world, a time to ...

I thought that this month I would share with you a few reflections on a subject which has brought me endless pleasure ...

I thought that this month I would share with you a few reflections on a subject which has brought me endless pleasure throughout my lifetime – ...

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey and "Christmastime Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi Trio are among the best ...

Here, the 36 most anticipated books of 2026. Lincoln in the Bardo. Blood in the Water, Liliana’s Invincible Summer Autobiography of Cotton New Yorker, Tar Baby Jazz Beloved Lauren Groff An American ...

While Too Many Santas! is a cutely ramshackle visual novel, it’s also about as sexy and funny as a Christmas Cracker joke.

The Christmas story includes chivalry as well as shepherds, and knights in shining armor as well as wise men bearing gifts.

Variety's music writers pick 2025's best songs, from Lily Allen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, Dijon, Hayley Williams, ...