“I was initially planning to write about grief in terms of Eurydice and the myth thereof. By that point the overall metaphor of height and depth and flat and falling and rising was coming into being in my mind.”

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.