The new Review magazine, due to debut on June 1, will feature literary profiles and essays, book extracts and a large book review section, as well as covering the latest in opera, visual arts, classical music and theatre.
There will also be a book of the week slot and official book sales charts. Names signed up to write for future issues of the Review include AS Byatt and Phillip Pullman, alongside Blake Morrison, JG Ballard, Anne Fine, Richard Eyre, Ian Jack and Bookseller editor Nicholas Clee.
Review editor Annalena McAfee recently hired Susanna Rustin, who joins from the Financial Times, to become assistant editor. Deputy editor is Giles Foden and Claire Armistead is literary editor.
The changes to the Review coincide with a redesign of The Editor, the paper's weekly round-up of news and features from around the world. The Editor will change to a larger tabloid format matching that of the Review.
Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said: "Books and arts have always been absolutely core to the paper. This new section will enable us to take our coverage of this hugely important area to a whole new level, giving the Saturday package a section which will drive the literary agenda and offer readers an inspiring read they can return to throughout the week."
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