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‘He always referred to me as Doris’ … Freddie Mercury at Maine Road, Manchester, in 1986. Photograph: Denis O’Regan/courtesy of west-contemporary-editions.com‘He always referred to me as Doris’ … Freddie Mercury at Maine Road, Manchester, in 1986. Photograph: Denis O’Regan/courtesy of west-contemporary-editions.comMy best shotPhotography‘I shot the singer in Manchester in 1986, on what would be his last tour with Queen. That shape he throws – no one else ever did it. He’s like a bendy toy’

ThrillersObituaryFrederick Nolan obituaryThriller writer and publisher who became an authority on the American old west and Billy the KidFrederick Nolan, who has died aged 91, was a novelist, historian and publisher, and a leading expert on the wild west gunslinger Billy the Kid. He wrote more than 70 books - thrillers, historical fiction, romance, westerns, mysteries and biographies – in his own name and under the noms de plume Frederick H Christian, Daniel Rockfern, Christine McGuire and Benjamin Rabier.

Observer business profileTechnology sectorInterviewMichael Horvath: the Strava co-founder who’s pacing himselfSarah ButlerThe chief executive of the booming fitness tracker wants to help reinvent urban travel, but he isn’t racing to float the company Michael Horvath took up hiking and yoga during the pandemic when his usual cycle to work was off limits. Like almost 100 million others in nearly 300 countries he was able to track his chosen activities on Strava – the app for sporty types he co-founded 13 years ago.

Book of the dayBiography booksReviewGeorge Orwell’s voice comes alive again in a biography drawing on newly discovered letters Though he worked for the BBC for two and a half years and often spoke on air, no recording of George Orwell’s voice has been found. Many friends and memoirists have described it, and his struggles to make himself audible (all the more so after a sniper’s bullet went through his throat in Spain), but their accounts vary: was his voice high-pitched or husky, old Etonian or a Cockney drawl?

Ray Hildebrand with Jill Jackson. The duo performed as Paul & Paula. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesRay Hildebrand with Jill Jackson. The duo performed as Paul & Paula. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesPop and rockObituaryRay Hildebrand obituarySinger and writer of Hey Paula, a US chart-topper in 1963 that appealed to teenagers around the worldThe song that made Ray Hildebrand’s name, Hey Paula, was written to help out Russell Berry, a teammate on his university basketball squad.

The 10 best sex guides Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email As The Joy of Sex hits 40, we recall more positions on lovemaking As chosen by Michael Hogan Sat 6 Oct 2012 10.00 BST First published on Sat 6 Oct 2012 10.00 BST The Joy of SexThe influential sex manual by Briton Alex Comfort celebrates its 40th birthday this month.

BooksHistorian Ned Blackhawk’s new book stresses the importance of telling US history with a wider and more inclusive lens Four centuries after African captives arrived on the shore of Virginia, America’s origin story was recast by the 1619 Project with slavery and the contribution of African Americans at his heart. It was a long-overdue corrective to white, Eurocentric narratives. But it was the not the last word. The big idea: why you can’t leave climate out of historyRead more“Scholars have recently come to view African American slavery as central to the making of America, but few have seen Native Americans in a similar light,” writes Ned Blackhawk, a historian at Yale University and member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone.

King Charles coronationExplainerThe choir sang the anthem – known to many as the Champions League theme – as Charles III was anointed with holy oil Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon King. And all the people rejoiced and said: God save The King! Long live The King! May The King live for ever! Amen, Alleluia! Amen. It was an electrifying moment. As Handel’s music built to a crescendo, the king’s coronation robes were removed to reveal a simple white linen tunic.

Paul Mescal (Connell) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (Marianne) in a scene from the BBC Three adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People. Photograph: Enda Bowe/BBC/Element Pictures/HuluView image in fullscreenPaul Mescal (Connell) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (Marianne) in a scene from the BBC Three adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People. Photograph: Enda Bowe/BBC/Element Pictures/HuluLiterary tripsExplore Ireland’s history and culture through these tales of loss and love by Sally Rooney, Edna O’Brien, Colm Tóibín and more