I don't much believe in the idea of characters. I write with words, that is all. Whether those words are put in the mouth of this or that character does not matter to me

I wrote for a weekly magazine and then edited a literary magazine, but I did not really feel comfortable with the profession of journalism itself

American literature had always considered writing a very serious matter

I am against the notion of style in itself

When I write, I enjoy myself so much that what is being written really needs no reader

I left my country because I was forced to, and I do not think that I am going to lose my language because I live in England

Writing for me, even what you call serious writing, is play.