Cultural Life: Johnny Marr, musician

Avatar - Gateway to a new world

James Cameron's long-awaited 3D science-fiction epic Avatar opens this month. Geoffrey Macnab recounts the Titanic director's long struggle to make it, and asks whether the film will revolutionise cinema

Small Island - Black pride and British prejudice

Andrea Levy's prize-winning novel 'Small Island' has been turned into a TV drama. Guy Adams talks to its fast-rising star, David Oyelowo

The Diary: Damien Hirst; The Pitmen Painters; Guy Ritchie; Gary Giddins

The Diary: Damien Hirst; The Pitmen Painters; Guy Ritchie; Gary Giddins

Too Big To Fail, By Andrew Ross Sorkin

Time passes and it heals, or at least it bandages up. Wall Street's banks are raking billions once more, the global economy is sputtering back to life and the chances of wresting control of our destinies from unfettered finance recede with each incremental improvement. Andrew Ross Sorkin wants Too Big To Fail to be a reminder of just how close to the abyss the whole system came last year when Lehman Brothers crashed and AIG crumbled, and a call to arms in favour of reform. Actually, he has written a book that douses the very fury which might lead to radical change. It is a reasonable book, methodically researched and persuasive. There are no villains here, and a good few heroes. So be it.

He's funny, fearless and a film star – so why does Eddie Izzard worry that he's boring?

Eddie Izzard reveals his sombre side to Christina Patterson

Frédéric Chopin - A very tainted genius

Next year is the bicentenary of Frédéric Chopin's birth, and major celebrations of his life are planned. But, says Jessica Duchen, while the composer's music was sublime, his personality was another matter entirely

The kids are alright: Britain's first luxury youth club

Forget table tennis. Britain's first luxury youth club offers teens Vitra chairs, a media lab and even a VIP area. Kate Burt takes a tour