This weeks Literary Ledger 13 to 20 February 2026

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world.

I) Alice Roberts’ Humans: A New Way to Understand Ourselves

Alice Roberts is an English academic, TV presenter, and author. I first came across her on the BBC show The Secret Life of Books, where she featured in the episode on Frankenstein, speaking with experts and exploring Frankenstein’s manuscripts written by an 18-year-old Mary Shelley.

I liked her straight away because of her ability to make anything feel interesting. I mean, I was already interested because I love Frankenstein, but there was something more about her, you can immediately see why she’s such a strong TV presenter.

Anyway, I was really glad to hear that DK are set to publish a “groundbreaking” new book of hers, Humans. It’s being marketed as a popular science book about the human body and humanity more broadly, which makes perfect sense given that since 2012 she has been Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham.

From what I understand, the goal is to create a comprehensive but engaging guide to what it means to be human, rather than a narrow scientific textbook. It doesn’t just focus on one major discovery, but brings together multiple areas, anatomy, evolution, archaeology, and anthropology, into one accessible volume.

I’m not a particularly “science” person myself, but this feels like the kind of book I could read and come away transformed.

II) London Writers Awards 2026: Celebrating New Voices

The London Writers’ Centre has announced the new cohort of writers selected for the 2026 London Writers Awards. If you’re not familiar with the Awards, as I wasn’t at first, don’t worry, I’ve got you. They’re a prestigious UK development programme for unpublished or unagented writers, with a special focus on supporting writers from underrepresented backgrounds in publishing. The programme runs for about 10 months and is completely free to attend.

This year, twenty-three writers have been chosen, with their work described by the judges as “astonishing.”

So, what’s in it for them? Well, they get regular feedback workshops to develop their manuscripts, masterclasses with authors and publishing professionals, industry access (agents, editors, publishers), and their work shared with hundreds of agents at the end of the programme. Not bad at all.

And the track record is impressive! Many alumni have gone on to secure agents and book deals, proving that the Awards are genuinely helping to make UK publishing more diverse and accessible.

III) Hachette UK Hits Record Revenue in 2025

Hachette UK had a “record-breaking” year in 2025, according to results released by its parent company, Lagardère, with revenue growing 3% year-on-year.

I know what you’re thinking, and so did I, that doesn’t sound like much. And you’re right, it’s not explosive growth. What it does show is steady year-on-year growth, even if the increase itself is modest.

This tells us two things: publishing isn’t collapsing, despite economic pressure, but it’s also not booming. It’s a steady, margin-sensitive industry, slow and careful growth is the new normal.

IV) From Royals to Rights: Andrew Lownie vs Simon & Schuster

Everyone’s talking about the Epstein files, and in the UK, the focus is now on “Prince” Andrew, especially after his recent arrest, on his birthday (class). He’s the first royal to be arrested since 1647, when King Charles I was taken by parliamentary forces and put on trial for high treason.

Imagine that: a royal who is worse than the guy who sparked a civil war, and yes, he really is much, much worse than Charles I, and yet, in the centuries since, it seems almost impossible to hold powerful men accountable for monstrous actions. Hopefully something comes of this arrest and proves that no one is truly above the law… though right now, it’s hard not to feel skeptical.

ANYWAY! This isn’t just a news outlet, and I’m sure you’re not here for my thoughts on royal accountability. Here’s how it relates to publishing:

Author and literary agent Andrew Lownie is suing the US arm of Simon & Schuster for breach of contract. He wrote a biography about Andrew titled Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which was supposed to be published in the US. According to Lownie, Simon & Schuster cancelled the book before release. He argues the publisher had committed to the book and then backed out improperly.

The publisher did acquire the book and paid part of the advance, but then cancelled publication late in the process, which Lownie claims violated the contract. In publishing, contracts usually allow publishers to reject a manuscript if it’s deemed “not acceptable,” but that clause is often vague. Disputes like this arise when authors feel the clause is being used unfairly. Lownie is reportedly suing for around $500,000 in damages. Though interestingly, the biography was already published in the UK by HarperCollins.

V) Sandy Rompotiyoke Wins 2026 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize

I spoke about this a couple of weeks ago, #Merky Books, founded by Stormzy to increase representation in publishing, specifically for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic writers, as well as unpublished and unagented voices.

As an imprint, they’re making waves this year by publishing one of the six Quick Reads: short, accessible books created especially for non-readers, people with short attention spans, neurodivergent readers, or those who may have fallen out of the habit of reading.

Now, it’s been announced that Sandy Rompotiyoke has won the 2026 #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize with her title Hallowed Land. This prize is designed to discover unpublished writers, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds. The winner receives a publishing contract with #Merky Books, essentially launching them as a debut author.