Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem.

The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, and those are the two countries where I also have the closest personal relationships with my translators - I don't know whether that's a coincidence, or if there's something to be learned from it.

As soon as you start writing about how human beings interact with each other socially, you're into politics, aren't you?

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

For many weeks after [my wife] died, I could not get used to the feeling of coldness and lifelessness on her side of the bed - and it was even worse when they took the body away and buried her.

Thatcherism has become bigger than she ever was.

Some people don't realize that a straight 'No' can be the kindest answer in the world.