There's something weird about the Scots. We are a troubled, slightly tortured race - the sense of the respectable outward character and, inside, the turmoil of something darker. Philip Kerr characterdarkinside Change image and share on social
James Bond was an early favourite, although I didn't understand much of it. I read the Bible a lot, too. You might say that this was my favourite, since I seemed to read it so often. Philip Kerr biblebondearly Change image and share on social
The mark of a writer is to make a story as likely as possible, and I've done my best to deliver authentic atmosphere. Philip Kerr atmosphereauthenticdeliver Change image and share on social
A lot of crime writing suffers from treading water. I feel an obligation to move the character on and not repeat myself. I try to fit him into a different period and a different agenda. That way, you learn slightly more about his personal history in the tradition of the unreliable narrator. It makes it more challenging to write. Philip Kerr agendumchallengecharacter share on social
I was a member of Corstorphine Library in Edinburgh, and every Friday night, my parents took me there to borrow books. I also used to spend nearly all my pocket money on books. Philip Kerr bookborrowcorstorphine Change image and share on social
I love sitting at my desk and facing a quiet day with a pen in my hand, and putting myself into a story. It's kind of weird, isn't it? I mean, to absent myself from real life and make up stories is strange, but I started doing this when I was ten years old. It was all I wanted to do. Philip Kerr absentdaydesk share on social
History asks us to imagine ourselves in a period, but it's a very different situation when you're in that period and faced with those situations. Philip Kerr askfacehistory Change image and share on social
All nationalism is based on racism and hate. I'm Scottish; I was born in Scotland, as my parents, as my grandparents. Philip Kerr basebeargrandparent Change image and share on social
The fascination for me writing about crime in Berlin was the idea that there was this much bigger crime taking place in the background, a fantastically epochal moment in history which is just going on. That just sort of makes the whole thing have a greater resonance. Philip Kerr backgroundberlinbig share on social
Scotland is the only case in the world where the poor part of a territory wants to separate from the rich part. If independence came, one option is to keep the pound as its currency, so that all economic decisions will continue to be taken by the Bank of England. Philip Kerr bankcasecontinue share on social