“Back then, things were plainer: less money, no electronic devices, little fashion tyranny, no girlfriends. There was nothing to distract us from our human and filial duty which was to study, pass exams, use those qualifications to find a job, and then put together a way of life unthreateningly fuller than that of our parents, who would approve, while privately comparing it to their own earlier lives, which had been simpler, and therefore superior.”

English essayist, novelist and short story writer

Julian Barnes is an English essayist, novelist, and short story writer. He is known for work that moves across fiction and essays, with a style that has made him a notable presence in contemporary English literature. His writing spans novels, short stories, and nonfiction essays, showing a range that has kept him widely read. On this site he is represented by 140 quotes, reflecting the reach of his work and the enduring interest in his prose.