I had forgotten until I looked up old notes that I sold the film rights of my first book, a life of Mary Wollstonecraft: there was a lunch, a contract, a small sum of money, then nothing. Claire Tomalin bookcontractfilm Change image and share on social
I didn't start writing my own books until I was 40. Claire Tomalin bookstartwrite Change image and share on social
When you live with Dickens for years, reading him and trying to present him as faithfully as you can, you can't fail to love the man - so the shock of his bad behaviour is considerable, even when you know it is coming. Claire Tomalin badbehaviourcome share on social
I was very priggish as a child. I saved up for a book on medieval English nunneries, for which I was despised by my friends. Claire Tomalin bookchilddespise Change image and share on social
Dickens had more energy than anyone in the world, and he expected his sons to be like him, and they couldn't be. Claire Tomalin dickenenergyexpect Change image and share on social
The young Dickens was so alive, so self-confident, so funny. Claire Tomalin aliveconfidentdicken Change image and share on social
Why do we read biography? Why do we choose to write it? Because we are human beings, programmed to be curious about other human beings, and to experience something of their lives. This has always been so - look at the Bible, crammed with biographies, very popular reading. Claire Tomalin beingbiblebiography share on social
I've behaved badly in my life. I hope I haven't behaved as badly as Dickens! In a way, if you're a woman, you're not in a position to behave as badly, because you don't have the economic power. Claire Tomalin badlybehavedicken Change image and share on social
Throughout his life, Dickens cared passionately about orphans. Claire Tomalin caredickenlife Change image and share on social
Dickens was a part of how the whole celebration of Christmas as we know it today emerged during the 19th century. Claire Tomalin 19thcelebrationcentury Change image and share on social
