My dad would tell me bedtime stories, and he used to always leave them open-ended and finish at a crucial point with the words, 'dream on'. Then it was my responsibility to finish the story as I was drifting off to sleep. We would call them dreaming stories. Hannah Kent bedtimecallcrucial share on social
I don't like to pretend I was guided in any way by the supernatural world, but the more you talk about that, the easier it is to dismiss those notions. Hannah Kent dismisseasyguide Change image and share on social
I still don't know why, exactly, but I do think people can have a spiritual connection to landscape, and I certainly did in Iceland. Hannah Kent connectionicelandlandscape Change image and share on social
In Iceland, you can see the contours of the mountains wherever you go, and the swell of the hills, and always beyond that the horizon. And there's this strange thing: you're never sort of hidden; you always feel exposed in that landscape. But it makes it very beautiful as well. Hannah Kent beautifulcontourexpose share on social
I used to have 20/20 vision, believe it or not; that's gone because of all the reading I did when I wasn't supposed to, reading in the back of a car, waiting for each street light to go past so I could grab another sentence. Hannah Kent backcargrab share on social
When I write, I write for myself, and I have high expectations... so I'm just trying to meet those. I'm not going to distract myself with other people's expectations. Hannah Kent distractexpectationhigh Change image and share on social
I was a very imaginative child, and my parents were very encouraging of that. My sister and I would put on plays; I would write my own stories. Hannah Kent childencourageimaginative Change image and share on social
There are secrets at the heart of every story; there is something that must be uncovered or discovered, both by the reader and by the characters. Hannah Kent characterdiscoverheart Change image and share on social
I really hate the term 'historical novel' - it reminds me of bodice-rippers. But I'm hooked on research, and I really, really enjoy it. Hannah Kent bodiceenjoyhate Change image and share on social
