Agatha Christie's writing is incredibly skillful because her books are incredibly intellectually puzzling and challenging.

There are very few well-adjusted people in my books. But I do think that's normal. Because everyone does have their issues and hang-ups.

Just because someone has stylistic limitations doesn't necessarily make them a worse writer.

I am actually incredibly contented and jolly. But, and I have no idea why this is, I have a really strong empathy with all kinds of warped and destructive modes of thinking. I don't know why, but those things co-exist.

Cambridge is heaven, I am convinced it is the nicest place in the world to live. As you walk round, most people look incredibly bright, as if they are probably off to win a Nobel prize.

No highbrow literary type would ever say 'Moby Dick' is good but it's just about a whale, or a Jane Austen would be important if she wasn't just writing about romantic relationships.