A whole new world of Italian music was springing up, and [Giuseppe] Verdi was seen as old. Boito got Verdi all excited about the possibility of doing another opera, another kind of opera. In fact, Verdi composed his two best operas, Otello and Falstaff, in his eighties.

I can't believe I've turned into a typical old man. I can't believe it. I was young just minutes ago.

'Hansel and Gretel' is one of the scariest stories ever written! Psychotic mother; stupid, inane father.

A book is really like a lover. It arranges itself in your life in a way that is beautiful.

I don't believe in an afterlife but I still fully expect to see my brother again.

I wanted to be acknowledged as an artist, not just some kiddie-book artist.

It was inconceivable to me as a child that I would be an adult. I mean, one assumed that it would happen, but obviously it didn't happen, or if it did, it happened when your back was turned, and then suddenly you were there. So I couldn't have thought about it much.