Claire Tomalin quotes - page 2

I sometimes think that, since I started writing biographies, I've had more of a life in books than I have had in my real life. (Claire Tomalin)
You become more tolerant when you become older. You're not interested in rapping people over the knuckles; you're interested in understanding them. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Writers don't make good spouses. When I am writing, I'm not a good wife. I shut myself away, and all my emotions are directed towards what I'm trying to write. View quote
Claire Tomalin
I've behaved badly in my life. I hope I haven't behaved as badly as Dickens! In a way, if you're a woman, you're not in a position to behave as badly, because you don't have the economic power. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Writers often feel obliged to adopt some sort of public appearance. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Biographers search for traces, for evidence of activity, for signs of movement, for letters, for diaries, for photographs. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Poetry was one of the things that interested me most as I was growing up. I used to write it in my head all the time. I still think the very greatest pleasure in life is to write a poem. View quote
Claire Tomalin
I'm usually convinced that what I'm working on is a total disaster. View quote
Claire Tomalin
I always feel sad when I come to the end of a book. View quote
Claire Tomalin
When you live with Dickens for years, reading him and trying to present him as faithfully as you can, you can't fail to love the man - so the shock of his bad behaviour is considerable, even when you know it is coming. View quote
Claire Tomalin
My life was a sort of series of random disasters. (Claire Tomalin)
I continually get more information about a subject after the book has been published. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Writing Charles Dickens' biography is like writing five biographies. View quote
Claire Tomalin
After Shakespeare, Dickens is the great creator of characters, multiple characters. View quote
Claire Tomalin
In 1843, everybody was hungry, unemployed, and conditions were very bad. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Dickens belongs to the English people. View quote
Claire Tomalin
The whole world knows Dickens, his London and his characters. View quote
Claire Tomalin
I would perhaps like to go back to writing small books about obscure people. View quote
Claire Tomalin
Dickens is a lover of human beings; a relisher of human beings. View quote
Claire Tomalin