The Last Word with Matt Cooper Interview: John Banville on His New Book Venetian Vespers
Dec 1, 2025
Acclaimed Irish novelist and screenwriter John Banville discusses his new book, Venetian Vespers, blending gothic and erotic themes. He shares the challenges of writing sex scenes, recalling a notorious award he was nominated for. Banville emphasizes the need for emotional dispassion in writing and reflects on aging, noting how his concentration has changed. He describes his unique writing process, mixing longhand and typing, while pondering the detachment he feels from his finished works. Finally, he whimsically labels his planned autobiography as a 'novelistic pack of lies.'
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Write Coldly To Avoid Emotional Slobbery
- John Banville says writers must write 'cold-bloodedly' rather than passionately to avoid messy work.
- He argues negating the personality produces clearer art and prevents emotional slobbery in prose.
Characters As Masked Versions Of Self
- Banville says characters are imagined versions of himself, like dream-masks.
- He views fiction as self-representation filtered through other personas rather than direct biography.
Neil Jordan's Self-Portrait Warning
- Banville recounts sending the manuscript to Neil Jordan who warned readers might see it as a self-portrait.
- He describes the protagonist Evelyn Dorman as a 'horrible creature' who gets his comeuppance.
