So much contemporary fiction is based on history, or inspired by myth, that Booker prize judges often find themselves asking: What is a novel's role in relation to the past? What can the imagination do with facts?' said Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker prize foundation. These questions offer ways to think about fiction of all kinds, and I'm delighted that the distinguished and much-loved classical scholar Mary Beard has agreed to steer this year's panel.
The crunch of frost underfoot, lungfuls of crisp fresh air, landscapes sparkling in shafts of sunlight; a good winter walk is one of life's simple pleasures. We want to hear about where you love to walk at this time of year in the UK. Perhaps it's a bracing coastal path, a meandering woodland hike or a riverside trail. If there's a lovely pub or cafe on the route so much the better!