I've never set out to seduce my reader. I don't see him at all clearly. Patrick O'Brian havereaderseduce 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
I have never written for an audience. On the other hand I do not write merely to please myself. Patrick O'Brian audiencehandwrite Change image and share on social
The first interviews I gave were entirely unpleasant. You have people trying to trip you up with impolite questions that have nothing to do with the books. It's simply vulgar curiosity, and I won't have it. Patrick O'Brian bookcuriositygive share on social
The function of the novel is the exploration of the human condition. Really, that's what it's all about. Patrick O'Brian conditionexplorationfunction Change image and share on social
Likings arise when one has no earthly reason for liking - the most wildly improbable marriages and uncommon friendship. Patrick O'Brian ariseearthlyfriendship 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
Since I grew up, I have never deliberately used any technique at all other than the physical shaping of my tale so that it more or less resembles what has been thought of as a novel for these last two hundred years. Patrick O'Brian deliberatelygrowhundred share on social
On a ship, everything is enclosed: the people are right on top of each other and can't get up and walk away. Patrick O'Brian enclosepeopleship Change image and share on social
Take a newspaper account of Waterloo or Trafalgar, with all the small advertisements: it seems much more real than reading about it in a history book. Patrick O'Brian accountadvertisementbook Change image and share on social
