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Conservative religious MPs in Afghanistan blocked legislation today aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.... The fictional sport of Quidditch was only invented because J.K. Rowling had an argument with her boyfriend, the Harry Potter author has ... (more)

British author JK Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series of books, poses during the launch of new online website Pottermore in London June 23, 2011.

What do you get when you meld the whiz-bang, condensed hilarity of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare with the cultural tsunami that is J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter septology? If you find out, let me know, because it is most assuredly not the cumbersomely titled Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff.

JK Rowling's notes reveal that she invented quidditch in a hotel in Manchester whilst 'pondering the things that hold a society together.' Photograph: PA From JK Rowling 's satisfaction at how the game of quidditch "infuriates men" to Ian Rankin 's revelation that he originally planned to kill off Rebus at the climax of the inspector's very first ... (more)

People can impose themselves on a room in different ways: Will Self towers over an audience both with his giant height and his substantial intellect.

The next time you wish to hack into a Mac, it may help to grab your wand and book of spells.

A Sure Bet - Publishers and booksellers already expect the latest Robert Langdon thriller to top bestseller lists all over the world.

Here at Maclean's, we appreciate the written word. And we appreciate you, the reader.

Author Dan Brown is shown May 13 in New York ahead of the release of his new book, Inferno, published by Doubleday.

In "The Da Vinci Code," Professor Robert Langdon takes on Opus Dei; and in "Angels and Demons," he's up against the Illuminati.

Dan Brown's only U.S. appearance to promote his new novel, 'Inferno,' will be live streamed at the Algiers Branch Library on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

Futurebook is reporting that Pottermore, JK Rowling's portal for all things Harry Potter, was a big winner at The Bookseller Industry Awards.

Dan Brown went on The Today Show this morning to talk up his newest book, Inferno, and take Matt Lauer on a tour of his New Hampshire home.

Gemma Tubbs reads her pre-ordered copy of the new Dan Brown novel Inferno on her Kindle Paperwhite device outside Parliament at midnight The writer, whose sales have already exceeded 200 million with his previous novels, has published his latest thriller starring Harvard professor Robert Langdon.

Last month, Clive James, a poet, critic and literary gadfly in Britain, published his long-awaited translation of Dante's The Divine Comedy, which includes The Inferno, which inspired Dan Brown's new thriller, The British critic, who just released a new translation of Dante's 'Divine Comedy,' shares his thoughts on the best-selling writer.

The people of Florence have seen tourism decline, following the downward trajectory of the global economy.

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The Da Vinci Code novelist hangs upside-down to get the creative juices flowing, while others rely on noise-cancelling headphones, sleeping bags and vitamins Dan Brown , it has emerged, occasionally dons a pair of gravity boots and hangs upside down from a special frame to help him relax and concentrate better on his writing.

Children's books have been getting longer since the Harry Potter series but there are ways to make them less daunting for less able readers Need your own Book Doctor prescription? Send in your question to childrens.books@guardian.co.uk These Harry Potter fans have not been put off by the size of the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth and longest book ... (more)

Here's the commencement speech that members of the Class of 2013 probably won't hear, but that I wish had been given to me when I graduated: At college, failure is something students try their best to avoid.