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Ian Mcewan Quotes

British - Author | June 21, 1948 -

You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.

You Say Spy Masters Could Novelists

I think of novels in architectural terms. You have to enter at the gate, and this gate must be constructed in such a way that the reader has immediate confidence in the strength of the building.

Strength Confidence Building Think

When I began I thought that literature was contained within a bubble that somehow floated above the world commented upon by newspapers. But I became more and more interested in trying to include some of that world within my work.

Work World Thought Literature Trying

It's good to get your hands dirty a bit and to test how you see things at a given point. And it's very pleasing after writing something like 'Atonement' or 'On Chesil Beach,' which are historical, to get involved in some plausible re-enactment of the here and now.

Good Beach Writing Hands You Dirty

I actually find novels that are determined to be funny at every turn quite oppressive.

Funny Find Turn Determined Quite

I put it to you that there are no British poets, there are no British novelists. I have heard myself described as one, but I think really I'm an English novelist; there are Scottish poets and Scottish novelists.

Myself Think You British English

As regards literary culture, it fascinates me that it has been so resilient to the Union. For example, when T.S. Eliot wanted to become poet in these lands, it wasn't as an English poet, it was an Anglian poet he wanted to be.

Culture Me Become Poet English Been

How often one reads a contemporary full-length novel and thinks quietly, mutinously, that it would have worked out better at half or a third the length.

Better Out Half Would Contemporary

We overvalue the arts in relation to the sciences.

Arts Sciences Relation

Something is missing in our culture. We can't quite celebrate the scientific literary tradition.

Culture Celebrate Tradition Missing

Scientists do stand on the shoulders of giants, just as do writers. Conversely, in the arts we do make discoveries. We do refine our tools. So I am arguing with, or at least playing with, the idea that art never improves.

Art I Am Stand Tools Never Arts

It should simply be an empirical matter whether the climate is changing or not and whether we're responsible. But the various sides of the debate have now become so tribal that it's no longer a matter of changing our views as more information comes in.

Information Debate Now Matter Become

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