The way I work: I pick a country. I learn the political history - I mean I really learn it; I read until it sinks in. Once I read the political history, I can project and find the clandestine history. And then I people it with the characters. Alan Furst characterclandestinecountry share on social
I don't really write plots. I use history as the engine that drives everything. Alan Furst driveenginehistory Change image and share on social
I write what I call 'novels of consolation' for people who are bright and sophisticated. Alan Furst brightcallconsolation Change image and share on social
If I'm a genre writer, I'm at the edge. In the end, they do work like genre fiction. You have a hero, there's a love interest, there's always a chase, there's fighting of some kind. You don't have to do that in a novel. But you do in a genre novel. Alan Furst chaseedgeend share on social
I'd never been in a police state. I didn't know what it was. I knew that it was, in the general way that people know that two and two is four, but it had no emotional value for me until I found myself in the middle of it. Alan Furst emotionalfindgeneral share on social
I could not spend the rest of my life sitting in Brazil writing down who called whom uncle and aunt. Alan Furst auntbrazilcall Change image and share on social
I grew up reading genre writers, and to the degree that Eric Ambler and Graham Greene are genre writers, I'm a genre writer. Alan Furst amblerdegreeeric Change image and share on social
I wrote three mysteries and then a contemporary spy novel that was unbelievably derivative - completely based on 'The Conversation,' the movie with Gene Hackman. Amazingly, the character in the book looks exactly like... Gene Hackman. Alan Furst amazinglybasebook share on social
When I went to prep school in New York City, I had to ride the subway and learned how to do homework on the train. I can work and read through anything. Alan Furst cityhomeworklearn Change image and share on social
I like to say I sit alone in my room, and I fight the language. I am wildly obsessive. I can't let something go if I think it's wrong. Alan Furst fightlanguageobsessive Change image and share on social
