I think I'm less the writer than I'm the written.

And indeed nothing had happened, a momentous nothing, just another of the great world's shrugs of indifference.

If they give me the bloody prize, why can't they say nice things about me?

A plot begins when somebody has something to hide.

The effect of prizes on one's career - if that is what to call it - is considerable, since they give one more clout with publishers and more notoriety among journalists. The effect on one's writing, however, is nil - otherwise, one would be in deep trouble.

The white May blossom swooned slowly into the open mouth of the grave.

I never went to university. I'm self-educated. I didn't go because I was too impatient, too arrogant.