My study is a converted garage which is largely lined with bookshelves and cardboard boxes filled with manuscripts of my film scripts, plays and books.

Why should I be honored? Don't I have enough attention, comfort and power already?

A well-off plastic surgeon can suffer just as much as an Irish lad who has been abused or whatever.

We are the slaves of slaves

Use your power gently.

When I began to write seriously, 40 years ago now, my chosen form was the novel.

Everyone deserves to be the hero of a novel.