Poetry was one of the things that interested me most as I was growing up. I used to write it in my head all the time. I still think the very greatest pleasure in life is to write a poem. Claire Tomalin greatgrowhead Change image and share on social
The thing I love about Rome is that is has so many layers. In it, you can follow anything that interests you: town planning, architecture, churches or culture. It's a city rich in antiquity and early Christian treasures, and just endlessly fascinating. There's nowhere else like it. Claire Tomalin antiquityarchitecturechristian share on social
When I kept a diary, I realised that it was all moanings and depression, and I think that is quite common. Claire Tomalin commondepressiondiary Change image and share on social
Everyone finds their own version of Charles Dickens. The child-victim, the irrepressibly ambitious young man, the reporter, the demonic worker, the tireless walker. The radical, the protector of orphans, helper of the needy, man of good works, the republican. The hater and the lover of America. The giver of parties, the magician, the traveler. Claire Tomalin ambitiouscharlechild share on social
Biographers use historians more than historians use biographers, although there can be two-way traffic - e.g., the ever-growing production of biographies of women is helping to change the general picture of the past presented by historians. Claire Tomalin biographerbiographychange share on social
Essentially, I spent most of my childhood with my mother and my older sister, and I suppose I had rather a romantic vision of how things might be if there were men around; I saw myself in a country house with six children and a garden. That has never been achieved - and I still regret it. Claire Tomalin achievechildchildhood 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
'Philomena' was even better than I had expected. I was so pleased to see the evil Irish nuns thoroughly exposed, and I thought Judi Dench gave a flawless performance, as did everybody else. Claire Tomalin denchevilexpect Change image and share on social
I would like to have a more social life than I have. Claire Tomalin lifesocial Change image and share on social
Historians will handle a much wider range of sources than a biographer and will be covering a broader spectrum of events, time, peoples. Claire Tomalin biographerbroadcover Change image and share on social