I have a confession to make. The love affair of my life has been with the Greek language. I have now reached the age when it has occurred to me that I may have read some books for the last time. I suddenly thought that there are books I cannot bear not to read again before I die. One that stands out a mile is Homer's Iliad.

Percival was mouse-coloured and had not been very attractive even to his mother.

Honestly, I haven't the time to read contemporary writers. I know this is awful, but in the main it is true.

Language fits over experience like a straight-jacket.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against this as a method, but it is not what English writers do.

We did everything adults would do. What went wrong?

Which is better -- to be a pack of painted Indians like you are, or to be sensible like Ralph is? Which is better -- to have rules and agree, or to hunt and kill? Which is better, law and rescue, or hunting and breaking things up?