William Trevor quotes

William Trevor was an acclaimed Irish novelist, playwright, and short story writer. Renowned for his subtle exploration of human psychology and the complexities of Irish society, his works have received numerous prestigious awards. He is remembered as one of the greatest short story writers of the twentieth century. Here are 7 of his quotes:

The capacity you're thinking of is imagination; without it there can be no understanding, indeed no fiction.

William Trevor

There is an element of autobiography in all fiction in that pain or distress, or pleasure, is based on the author's own. But in my case that is as far as it goes.

William Trevor

I value mothers and motherhood enormously. For every inattentive or abusive mother in my fiction I think you'll find a dozen or so who are neither.

William Trevor

I read hungrily and delightedly, and have realized since that you can't write unless you read.

William Trevor

I get melancholy if I don't [write]. I need the company of people who don't exist.

William Trevor

People run away to be alone,' he said. Some people had to be alone.

William Trevor