'The Good Soldier' is an odd and maybe even unique book. That it is a masterpiece, almost a perfect novel, comes as a repeated surprise even to readers who have read it before. Jane Smiley bookgoodmasterpiece Change image and share on social
I wrote the Dickens book because I loved Dickens, not because I felt a kinship with him, but after writing the book it seemed to me that there was at least one similarity between us and that was that Dickens loved to write and wrote with the ease and conviction of breathing. Me, too. Jane Smiley bookbreatheconviction share on social
I was asked by an editor to consider writing something about an American inventor. I asked him if he knew who invented the computer. He said he didn't. In that case, I told him, I should write a book about John Vincent Atanasoff. Jane Smiley americanaskatanasoff share on social
There can never be such a thing as a free market, because it is human nature to cheat, monopolize, and buy off others so as to corner the market. Jane Smiley buycheatcorner Change image and share on social
If there's anything Trollope novels always take seriously, it is money - how it flows from one character to another, how it is managed, who has it, who deserves it, and what it means to a character, male or female. Jane Smiley characterdeservefemale share on social