How often one reads a contemporary full-length novel and thinks quietly, mutinously, that it would have worked out better at half or a third the length. Ian Mcewan contemporaryfullhalf Change image and share on social
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
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
It's good to get your hands dirty a bit and to test how you see things at a given point. And it's very pleasing after writing something like 'Atonement' or 'On Chesil Beach,' which are historical, to get involved in some plausible re-enactment of the here and now. Ian Mcewan atonementbeachbite 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
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
