It is surprising how many people who don't read believe they have a book in them. Why? Nobody would imagine that Alfred Brendel took up the piano on a whim at 25 when he found accountancy unpleasant. — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
Homer Collyer's chosen form of self-expression is the piano, although late in life, when his hearing also goes, he takes to writing. — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
My own interest in Kafka's letter came about when I was writing an article on Peter Ginz, the boy novelist held in Terezin, not… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
Germany led the world in photography and film: 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' and 'Metropolis' are works that, to this day, film buffs revere. — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
I was lucky to get to Oxford. I am now an honorary fellow of my old college, which is nice, particularly for a colonial… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
The plane approaches Cape Town and, as always, I am astonished by the view of Table Mountain and the surrounding sea. It is so… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
Someone once pointed out that there are quite a lot of animals in my books, and I'm sure that is something to do with… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
It is uncomfortable to be reminded that the Catholic church only removed the reference to 'perfidious Jews' from the Good Friday liturgy in 1960. — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
I have worshipped Berlin from the day I read 'Two Concepts of Liberty' in South Africa. It seemed to make it respectable to be… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
So often in English fiction, people are either upper-class twits, or else they're knockabouts, less than human. — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
I write from what I take to be the realist's point of view, looking at life as it really is - or the way… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
This Oscar Pistorius business is interesting. There is this cult of carrying lots of guns and being ready to shoot somebody. There were people… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
The fascination with Judas has persisted despite the fact that there is no evidence of the hard facts of his life. Even the 'Iscariot'… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
Nicola Barker is both prodigiously talented and admirably fearless. I have loved her books. But for some time, I had little or no idea… — Justin Cartwright Copy Share Image
