With Christmas nearly upon us, the Canvas book reviewing team takes the hassle out of gift-shopping with ideas for all ages and tastes.

The quest may no longer be for the elixir of immortality but with an ageing population there is increased awareness of what it takes to live long and well, writes Dionne Christian.

The little-known tale of an Australian 'quack' who helped save the British throne from embarrassment is soon to be released.

There is more to impersonating a rock star than grabbing a glitzy jacket, shades and turning up at a karaoke bar. Alan Perrott meets four musicians so devoted to their chosen idol that it has become a part of their life.

An Auckland couple merge their own style with a heritage building.

There's more to writing a love story than one might think. Rebecca Barry meets aspiring and published authors of the booming romance genre.

Fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson tells David Larsen how a dragon on a book cover lured him back to reading and changed the path of his life.

After 40 years in television, the past 27 with Fair Go, one of the most-recognised faces in New Zealand is bowing out. Kevin Milne talks to Alan Perrott about the rights and wrongs of his escapades and TV ratings.

He's in cinemas right now playing an FBI agent. But it's been his television turn as Mad Men's flawed but smouldering Don Draper that made Jon Ham a star - and helped elevate him to the sexiest man alive.

Best-known for her rollicking blockbuster romances set in the horse-riding world, Jilly Cooper is one of Britain's most-read authors. Robyn Langwell meets the prolific writer at home, a setting straight out of one of her novels.

Fashion Week is no longer the sole domain of highly paid, high-powered players. With the rise of new technology has come the rise of self-styled fashion commentators armed with little more than an internet connection and their passion.

With Fashion Week turning 10, Canvas columnist and World co-founder Denise L'Estrange-Corbet meditates on its importance, its problems and recounts a memorable tanty at World's first New Zealand show.

Christmases in Switzerland, red-carpet premieres in Cannes, fishing expeditions off the front deck ... Life for the super-wealthy can be pretty fabulous. But, you don't need to be rich to lead such a covetable lifestyle.

When a Hastings couple renovated their villa to include a workroom, space and light were priorities.

Put the Bolly on ice, dahlings, next month's New Zealand Fashion Week will be the 10th. To celebrate, Fashion Week creator and leading dahling Pieter Stewart allowed Canvas exclusive access to her photographic archive.

Life lessons from the trainee counsellor.

After years of hard slog keeping a day job to pay for his musical passion, Big Wednesday presenter Marshall Smith tells Alan Perrott the effort.

War from the horse's mouth.

Whatever happened to the family holiday under canvas?

A level, grassy section was the drawcard for a Auckland couple on their search for a new home.

You can't keep a hungry child out of the kitchen. But how much do they learn from their mothers? Some of our top chefs and their mums talk about their childhood eating habits.

Kiwis in their 20s now have the highest divorce rate of any age group. What's going wrong?

Alan Perrott investigates why some people choose to commute long distances.