But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories because they turn into novels.

Revisionist historians are about to get their hands on the Thatcher years, shes probably going to be looked at again because she feels far enough away now, and we dont see her much on the political landscape in this country, shes kind of disappeared and she doesnt speak out much anymore.

The writer I feel the most affinity with - you said you felt my books are 19th century novels, I think they're 18th century novels - is Fielding, Henry Fielding, he's the guy who does it for me.

But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories because they turn into novels.

Writers never feel comfortable having labels attached to them, however accurate they are.

You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.

But you can try to read books at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons.