For a small island [Great Britain], the place is remarkably diverse.

I am by nature an optimist and by intellectual conviction a pessimist.

The beast was harmless and horrible; and the news must reach the others as soon as possible.

Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.

I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been.

Then you have people coming up like Malcolm Bradbury, a relatively young writer who deals with the academic scene and deals with it, I think, brilliantly.

I suppose I'd have to say that my favourite author is Homer. After Homer's Ilaid, I'd name The Odyssey, and then I'd mention a number of plays of Euripides.