And after awhile of this my brain and my body and every single inch of me that was alive was flooded with the feeling that I was starving, starving for Edmond. And what a coincidence, that was the feeling I loved best in the world.

She frowned at him. 'You are in love with solitude.' 'Is there a better cure for the world than solitude?

I'd like to think life has improved since 1850, despite the long hours we all seem to spend slaving over hot computers, but the psychological journeys remain the same - the search for love, identity, a meaningful place in the world.

I love you. I'm madly in love with you. Well, madly obviously, given I'm mad as a mudlark. But you saved my life. I'd be dead without you. And you're so good to me. And you love me too. How lucky is that? Amazing! Amazingly lucky. I can't live without you. You're my lucky charm." She felt a sudden desire to kill Justin's well-meaning friend.

My daughter is a fantastic travelling companion - she's totally organised, whereas I'm hopeless.

I guess there was a war going on somewhere in the world that night but it wasn't one that could touch us.

Ask any comedian, tennis player, chef. Timing is everything.