A public role endures for the literary high-command, as sages and seers, speaking out on social and political issues.

I always consider every place worth exploring once- just in case there's a thirty foot flaming sign divulging the secret of life, that no one has told me about.

Most books reviews aren't very well-written. They tend to be more about the reviewer than the book.

New York City has fantastic restaurants and, unlike London, a lot of the best restaurants are relatively cheap.

One of my proudest achievements is that when an authoritative book about Hungarian literature came out about a decade ago, there was a little article about me which said I was a Hungarian writer but pretending not to be. Bearing in mind I can hardly write a cheque in Hungarian, I was delighted to be included in the pantheon of Hungarian writers.

As an author, I realise, you're on your own. You have to do everything you can to help The Book. If I make sure people know it's out there, they can make up their own minds whether they want to read it.

Few pleasures are greater than knowing you can close your door, ignore the world and create your own.