“Why have you given your life to books, TC? Dull, dull, dull! The memoirs are bad enough, but all that ruddy fiction! Hero goes on a journey, stranger comes to town, somebody wants something, they get it or they don't, will is pitted against will. "Admire me, for I am a metaphor.”

David Mitchell is a British novelist and short-story writer. His work often explores themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of human connection, blending literary depth with accessible storytelling. Known for novels like *Ghostwritten* and *Number Nine*, he has earned a reputation for rich, introspective narratives.