About my books, that's all that I think the public has, in its normal way, to know. My private life is, by definition, private. Patrick O'Brian bookdefinitionlife Change image and share on social
In a day when, if you insulted a man it might cost you your life, you were probably more civil. Patrick O'Brian civilcostday Change image and share on social
I have 60 years of reading to draw upon: naval memoirs, dispatches, the Naval Chronicles, family letters. Patrick O'Brian chronicledispatchdraw Change image and share on social
I very much dislike being interviewed by the kind of journalist who tries to dig into your private life. Patrick O'Brian digdislikeinterview Change image and share on social
In my case, I write in the past because I'm not really part of the present. I have nothing valid to say about anything current, though I have something to say about what existed then. Patrick O'Brian casecurrentexist Change image and share on social
My wife and I have spent most of our lives in France, and we are both pretty well bilingual, my wife more purely than I, since as a little girl she went to school in French Switzerland. Patrick O'Brian bilingualfrancefrench Change image and share on social
You can't be happy if you're not tolerably happy with yourself. The addition of friends adds immeasurably to life. Patrick O'Brian addadditionfriend Change image and share on social