Little Tamar, forget the long ago. We are here and we are now, and that is all. We are making a new start.

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.

In the writing process, the more a story cooks, the better.

I'm not one of those writers that sits worrying about posthumous fame.

There was a time when young people respected learning and literature and now they don't.

Little Tamar, forget the long ago. We are here and we are now, and that is all. We are making a new start.

I never thought of London in terms of possible heroes - of course, there are thousands. It's a very talented city.