“I don’t want your babies, Felix. I can assure you I’m not sitting up here like some tragic fallen woman every night dreaming of having your babies.” She began tracing a figure of eight with her fingernail along his stomach. The movement looked idle but the nail pressed in hard. “You realize of course that if it were the other way round there would be a law, there would be an actual law: John versus Jen in the high court. And John would put it to Jen that she did wilfully fuck him for five years, before dumping him without warning in the twilight of his procreative window, and taking up with young Jack-the-lad, only twenty-four years old and with a cock as long as my arm. The court rules in favor of John. Every time. Jen must pay damages. Huge sums. Plus six months in jail. No—nine. Poetic justice.”

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About Zadie Smith

English novelist, essayist, and short-story writer

Zadie Smith is an English novelist, essayist, and short-story writer. Her debut novel, White Teeth, appeared in 2000 and quickly became a best-seller, bringing her wide attention. She has 153 quotes on the site. Smith’s first novel also won several awards. In September 2010, she became a tenured professor in the creative writing faculty at New York University.

More from Zadie Smith (153 quotes) →

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Books by Zadie Smith

White Teeth

2001

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On Beauty

2005

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The Autograph Man

2003

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Swing Time

2017

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Changing my mind

2009

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