When I began I thought that literature was contained within a bubble that somehow floated above the world commented upon by newspapers. But I became more and more interested in trying to include some of that world within my work. Ian Mcewan beginbubblecomment share on social
What I've discovered and really confirmed to myself is that opera really likes loud colours, and you need something bold, something savage, unpredictable, passionate. You can't really run a two-hour opera round some muted murmuring. Ian Mcewan boldcolourconfirm share on social
What reader wants to be told what attitude to strike? Ian Mcewan attitudereaderstrike Change image and share on social
The moment you have children and a mortgage you want things to work; you're locked into the human project and you want it to flourish. Ian Mcewan childflourishhuman Change image and share on social
You enter a state of controlled passivity, you relax your grip and accept that even if your declared intention is to justify the ways of God to man, you might end up interesting your readers rather more in Satan. Ian Mcewan acceptcontroldeclare share on social
Novelists have to be adept at controlling the flow of information, and, most crucially, they have to be in charge of the narrative. Ian Mcewan adeptchargecontrol Change image and share on social
At the risk of sounding like Virginia Woolf, I could live on £700 a year. Ian Mcewan liverisksound Change image and share on social
Now, I'm an atheist. I really don't believe for a moment that our moral sense comes from a god. Ian Mcewan atheistgodmoment Change image and share on social
I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play I feel a little sorrowful that I'll never know the man, or any man of such warm intelligence. Ian Mcewan apologizecurtaindecent share on social
What is it precisely, that feeling of 'returning' from a poem? Something is lighter, softer, larger - then it fades, but never completely. Ian Mcewan completelyfadefelt Change image and share on social
