Old truths and ancient magic, revolution and invention, all conspire to distract us from the passion that in one way or another defeats us all.

The library furnished our dreams, helped us shape our ambitions, made up people of books and ideas and grand designs.

I find at moments I'm as fragile as glass.

I picture heaven as a vast library, with unlimited volumes to read. And paintings and statues to examine galore. I picture it as a great doorway to learning...rather than one great dull answer to all our questions

Amazing what the British do with language; the nuances of politeness. The world's great diplomats, surely.

My life's been too much of a self-created vocation. And there are times when I think I've done everything in the name of defiance.

You were the vampire in my dream. My perfect one.