Politics is never a victory, it's just the remorseless grinding forward of events. Robert Harris eventforwardgrind Change image and share on social
I am sure future historians will say the biggest and most astonishing change in politics has been the embracing of all the tenets of Thatcherism by the party of Keir Hardie: trade union legislation, Europe, the replacement of Trident, 10 per cent tax for people who have made millions from their companies. Robert Harris astonishbigcent share on social
Writing a novel - unlike operating a piece of heavy machinery, say, or cooking a chicken - is not a skill that can be taught. There is no standard way of doing it, just as there is no means of telling, while you're doing it, whether you're doing it well or badly. And merely because you've done it well once doesn't mean you can do it well again. Robert Harris badlychickencook share on social
I like to take people you wouldn't really think people would write novels about: an aqueduct engineer, a code-breaker, a hedge-fund manager. It's in those sorts of lives that I find more fascination than in a CIA operative or a Marine or something like that. Robert Harris aqueductbreakercia share on social
My parents were interested in history and the world. My father read Graham Greene and Georges Simenon and was a strong trade unionist and Labour supporter. Robert Harris fathergeorgegraham Change image and share on social
Writers and journalists tend to be simplistic about politics when, like all other areas of life, it's more complicated. Robert Harris areacomplicatejournalist Change image and share on social
I see myself as the literary equivalent of a skilled lathe-operator, or a basket-weaver; a potter, maybe: I make mildly diverting objects that people want to buy. Robert Harris basketbuydivert Change image and share on social
The true currency of life is time, not money, and we've all got a limited stock of that. Robert Harris currencyhavelife Change image and share on social
Within reason, I can write what I like and spend as long doing it as is necessary. That is a luxury beyond price. Robert Harris longluxuryprice Change image and share on social
I was a political journalist; I came to writing novels through an interest in politics and power. Robert Harris interestjournalistnovel Change image and share on social