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

It's what the reader thinks that counts.

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

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.

The way British publishing works is that you go from not being published no matter how good you are, to being published no matter how bad you are.

Even those with unspendable fortunes only have one mind, one mouth, two ears, two eyes and one pleasure station. There's only so much fun you can take.