A lot of people who end up writing books and perhaps especially children's books had a missing parent in their life. Parents are the people you have to get rid of when you're writing a book about children because they spoil everything parents. I'm describing someone rather like Nigel Farage now, which horrified me. Well, I wasn't thinking that. I was thinking, well, there's something of the distant father who's in the real world of Lyra's father. Yes. But anyway, we were dutifully sorry, my brother and I dutifully sad, but I can't say I felt a great deal because he was always away.
Over lunch in his house in Oxford, bestselling author Philip Pullman speaks to broadcaster Samira Ahmed about the moments of his childhood and youth that shaped and inspired his unique storytelling. This episode is part of our series How I Found My Voice, hosted by Samira Ahmed. If you like this episode do check out the entire series.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices