There are no laws for the novel. There never have been, nor can there ever be.

Novels give you the matrix of emotions, give you the flavour of a time in a way formal history cannot.

What's terrible is to pretend that second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don't need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you're capable of better.

My father was in the First World War.

In university they don't tell you that the greater part of the law is learning to tolerate fools.

Things are not quite so simple always as black and white.