Ruth Rendell
Ruth Rendell
Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBEwas an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth17 February 1930
characters fascinated obsessions people
I don't know that I am fascinated with crime. I'm fascinated with people and their characters and their obsessions and what they do. And these things lead to crime, but I'm much more fascinated in their minds.
books carefully characters exciting favourite ford good love studied
My favourite book - 'The Good Soldier' by Ford Madox Ford, which I have read about 20 times - is different from my favourite author, who is Iris Murdoch. I find her books exciting and unputdownable. Her characters are so carefully studied and in-depth; I love that.
activities characters disclose future judging noticed novice readers recent reveal work writers
In judging other people's work, particularly short stories, I have noticed how novice writers tell the readers everything about their characters in the first paragraphs, disclose their motives, reveal their recent activities and their future intentions.
character shoes boots
I really do literally put myself into a character's shoes.
character cutting insult
To say that Agatha Christie’s characters are cardboard cut-outs is an insult to cardboard cut-outs.
carry good notebook pick
I never carry a notebook while walking around London. I just pick those things up. I'm very good at quizzes.
knew politics
I knew quite a lot about politics before I went to Parliament.
cupboard large quite stuffed
I have two quite large houses, and every cupboard and drawer is stuffed with books.
good people
I just want to tell a good story, so I always ask myself, 'Are these people real to me?'
love
I'm not much of a shoe person, but I love a pair by Bruno Magli that I've had for 10 years.
details few head narrative plot written
I never make notes; just a few small details when I'm writing, but nothing much. The plot is never written down. I will tell the story to myself, but I won't plan it. I'll speak the narrative in my head for a while.
car fond named orleans saw street tennessee
I'm very fond of Tennessee Williams' plays, and when my husband and I went to New Orleans in the late 1970s, we saw 'A Street Car Named Desire.'
younger
I've done the big 12-city tours, and I'm never going to do that again - never. I was younger then. It wears you out, you know.
difference famous knock work writer
You don't knock television, even if you don't always like what they make of your work. It makes all the difference between being an also-ran writer and very famous.