My wife spoke perfect Italian and she was very beautiful and very suave Italian men were crowding around her, talking all the time and if I was to even understand what was going on, I had to learn the language fast.

Humphrey Searle writes music that sounds like the theme from 'Star Wars' played backwards through a washing machine.

Philosophers are divided on the question of whether the narrative therein unfolded [the Crossman Diaries] is grippingly boring or boringly gripping.

Jack Aubrey is a tremendous tower of strength and you always want to read about him.

Writers quite often starve. And I'm mainly just writing critical prose and poetry, that's a formula for starvation.

I love reading about the sea. I love reading about it a lot more than actually being on the sea, when you think about it.

Beyoncé and pathos are strangers. Amy Winehouse and pathos are flatmates, and you should see the kitchen.