I was once asked if I'd like to meet the president of a certain country. I said, "No, but I'd love to meet some sheepherders." The sheepherders, farmers and taxi drivers are often the most interesting people.

During my lifetime I have met dozens of writers and photographers in dozens of different countries. But I have encountered no one who could both write and photograph with the artistry of Robert Vavra.

I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.

I was brought up in the great tradition of the late nineteenth century: that a writer never complains, never explains and never disdains.

I wondered how a man ever got an English girl into bed. What did they do with her hockey stick?

The decent thing to do is to get rid of some of this money.

In six pages, I can't even say "Hello.