The Book Show

Lessons in life, mortality and love from Julian Barnes

14 snips
May 30, 2022
Julian Barnes, a renowned British novelist and Booker Prize winner, reflects on the impact of his teaching family on his non-didactic writing style. He talks about the essence of a great teacher and shares insights from his latest novel, Elizabeth Finch, which centers on a transformative educator. Barnes delves into his thoughts on mortality, his agnostic views on religion, and the subtle joys and challenges of the writing process. He candidly discusses self-doubt and the complexities of legacy as a writer.
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ANECDOTE

Raised Among Teachers, Not Preached To

  • Julian Barnes grew up in a family of teachers but recalls a practical, non-ideological household rather than philosophical debates.
  • He attributes his non-didactic writing style to that upbringing and rejects telling readers how to live.
INSIGHT

Writer As Companion, Not Preacher

  • Barnes sees the writer-reader relationship as companionship, not moral instruction.
  • He aims to pose moral questions rather than deliver answers so readers can respond alongside him.
ANECDOTE

Silences At The Kitchen Table

  • Barnes describes a typical English childhood where big topics like religion, sex and politics weren't discussed.
  • He credits books for showing alternative explanations of life that led him toward writing.
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