I didn't think I had anything particular to say, but I thought I might have something to say to children. Penelope Lively childthink Change image and share on social
Every novel generates its own climate, when you get going. Penelope Lively climategenerate Change image and share on social
I have long been interested in landscape history, and when younger and more robust I used to do much tramping of the English landscape in search of ancient field systems, drove roads, indications of prehistoric settlement. Penelope Lively ancientdriveenglish share on social
It seems to me that everything that happens to us is a disconcerting mix of choice and contingency. Penelope Lively choicecontingencydisconcert Change image and share on social
It was a combination of an intense interest in children's literature, which I've always had, and the feeling that I'd just have a go and see if I could do it. Penelope Lively childcombinationfelt Change image and share on social
The pleasure of writing fiction is that you are always spotting some new approach, an alternative way of telling a story and manipulating characters; the novel is such a wonderfully flexible form. Penelope Lively alternativeapproachcharacter Change image and share on social
All I know for certain is that reading is of the most intense importance to me; if I were not able to read, to revisit old favorites and experiment with names new to me, I would be starved - probably too starved to go on writing myself. Penelope Lively experimentfavoriteimportance share on social
I can walk about London and see a society that seems an absolutely revolutionary change from the 1950s, that seems completely and utterly different, and then I can pick up on something where you suddenly see that it's not. Penelope Lively 1950sabsolutelychange share on social
There's a preoccupation with memory and the operation of memory and a rather rapacious interest in history. Penelope Lively historyinterestmemory Change image and share on social
