“How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts? And the longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to remind us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but—mainly—to ourselves.”

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.