In my defence I can only say that her past, too, like mine, like everyone's in fact, was a locked box. Occasionally we allow people a peep, but generally only at the top level. The darker streams of our memories we negotiate alone.

I don't think I'm an unkind person, I don't think my books are unkind, and I don't think my readers are unkind.

I always loved movies and the cinema; we always used to go to see films as a family.

I never know which is worse: the sorrow when you hit the bird or the shame when you miss it.

Sometimes it is quite surprising, the emotional intensity of it. I was in NY one day, in Barnes and Noble, and I could see this woman following me around and after a bit I stopped and said 'Hello' and she just looked at me and said: “PLEASE LET EDITH BE HAPPY!”

Lawyers are always confident before the verdict. It's only after that they share their doubts.

Vulgarity is no substitute for wit.