Friday, October 23, 2026 Independent journalism, sources showing.
Zepy

Literature, culture, stories and plenty of news.

Books & Literature

New releases, bestsellers and the great works of every age — news, studies and ideas from the world of letters.

Guide

How Tolkien built The Lord of the Rings

Conceived as a simple sequel to a children's story, J. R. R. Tolkien's epic spent twelve years in drafting before reshaping fantasy literature.

By Eleanor Whitcombe3 min read

Explainer

How the Booker Prize Works

From eligibility rules and panel reading marathons to high-profile disputes, here is how Britain’s most prestigious fiction award operates.

By Eleanor Whitcombe3 min read

Guide

A Reader's Guide to Moby-Dick

Herman Melville's maritime epic was a commercial failure in 1851, but patience and an eye for its unusual structure unlock a classic.

By Eleanor Whitcombe3 min read

Feature

Where King Arthur Came From

How shadowy post-Roman battle lists grew into the vast medieval tradition known as the Matter of Britain.

By Eleanor Whitcombe4 min read

Feature

A short history of high and epic fantasy

From 19th-century romances to Tolkien and modern bestselling sagas, the genre grew around the architecture of fully realised secondary worlds.

By Eleanor Whitcombe3 min read

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