P. D. James
P. D. James
Phyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park, OBE, FRSA, FRSL, known as P. D. James, was an English crime writer. She rose to fame for her series of detective novels starring police commander and poet Adam Dalgliesh...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth3 August 1920
P. D. James quotes about
confusing identity senses
Absolute nakedness was intrusive, confusing to the senses. Paradoxically, it both revealed and diminished identity.
night two sailing
Not so much two ships passing in the night as two ships sailing together for a time but always bound for different ports.
country cities office
Any visitor to an historic country town or city quickly becomes aware in his or her peregrinations that the most attractive houses in the centre are invariably the offices of lawyers.
moments eternal-life eternal
We can experience nothing but the present moment, live in no other second of time, and to understand this is as close as we can get to eternal life.
dream writing style
Don't just plan to write - write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.
funny-friendship war forgiving
We English are good at forgiving our enemies; it releases us from the obligation of liking our friends.
writing world language
We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it.
breathing metaphysical speculation
Metaphysical speculation is about as pointless as a discussion on the meaning of one's lungs. They're for breathing.
alzheimers tragedy disease
The great tragedy of Alzheimer's disease, and the reason why we dread it, is that it leaves us with no defence, not even against those who love us.
new-experiences people mind
Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other people. Nothing that happens to a writer – however happy, however tragic – is ever wasted.
retirement people unemployment
Work did bestow dignity, status, meaning. Wasn't that why people dreaded unemployment, why some men found retirement so traumatic?
realization might peculiar
Unnatural death always provoked a peculiar unease, an uncomfortable realization that there were still some things that might not be susceptible to bureaucratic control.
together reason humans
Of all the things that human beings did together, the sexual act was the one with the most various of reasons.
creativity atmosphere coercion
Creativity doesn't flourish in an atmosphere of despotism, coercion and fear.