Thatcherism has become bigger than she ever was.

I was mainly in a state of nervousness while I wrote it - nervousness that it was far bigger and more complicated than anything I'd attempted before, and that maybe my talent just wasn't up to it and the book would have to be abandoned, or would turn out not to work at all when it was finished.

They were written in the early '90s when I was strapped for cash.

The biggest markets for my books outside the UK are France and Italy, and those are the two countries where I also have the closest personal relationships with my translators - I don't know whether that's a coincidence, or if there's something to be learned from it.

I live a perfectly happy and comfortable life in Blair's Britain, but I can't work up much affection for the culture we've created for ourselves: it's too cynical, too knowing, too ironic, too empty of real value and meaning.

I don't mind summer rain. In fact I like it. It's my favourite sort.' 'Your favourite sort of rain?' said Thea. I remember that she was frowning, and pondering these words, and then she announced: 'Well, I like the rain before it falls.