Africa gives you the knowledge that man is a small creature, among other creatures, in a large landscape.

You only learn to be a better writer by actually writing.

Words. Words. I play with words, hoping that some combination, even a chance combination, will say what I want.

All one's life as a young woman one is on show, a focus of attention, people notice you. You set yourself up to being noticed and admired. And then, not expecting it, you become middle-aged and anonymous.

But there is no doubt that to attempt a novel of ideas is to give oneself a handicap: the parochialism of our culture is intense. For instance, decade after decade bright young men and women emerge from their universities able to say proudly: 'Of course I know nothing about German literature.' It is the mode. The Victorians knew everything about German literature, but were able with a clear conscience not to know much about the French.

I do not think that marriage is one of my talents. I've been much happier unmarried than married.

It usually takes me a year to do a book. A year or eighteen months.