Birthday: April 15, 1940
Sun sign: Aries
Hometown: London and Cambridge
Place of birth: London
School/ college: Wellington School; Brasenose College, Oxford
First break
Not a Penny More, Not A Penny Less
Low point of your life
Death, whenever it comes
High point of your life
Running for England in 1966
Currently I AM ...
Promoting my latest novel, Best Kept Secret
What are you reading right now?
The Hundred Year Old Man [Jonas Jonasson]
A book you wish you’d written?
A Tale Of Two Cities [Charles Dickens].
A book that instantly put you to sleep.
James Joyce’s Ulysses.
A book that kept you up all night?
Life of Pi [Yann Martel].
What would you say to someone who doesn’t like to read?
You’re missing a lot of fun.
Physical books or e-books.
Physical books.
The oddest place that inspiration has struck you.
On a bus.
The funniest thing a fan has said to you.
“My grandmother loves your books”.
What would we find on your bedside table?
A photo of my wife, Mary, and a pile of books.What about India reminds you most of the UK?
Cricket.
The craziest rumour you have heard about yourself.
That I won a gold medal at the Olympics.
The craziest rumour you have heard about yourself.
That I won a gold medal at the Olympics.
Describe India in five words.
Tomorrow, calm, kind, dignified, readers.
Is it harder to be a writer or an MP?
An MP.
What did you do with your first pay cheque?
Spent it on a painting.
A book you would rewrite.
Kane and Abel.
Advice to an aspiring writer.
Work, work, work.
The craziest thing you’ve done for your wife.
Marry her!
If life had a backspace button, what would you delete?
Nothing.
What is the one thing you can’t help splurging on?
Art. Your favourite gadget.
A watch.
The hardest thing about being a writer?
The loneliness.
Your best kept secret.
I’m in love with Audrey Hepburn
Last WORD
In life, what is the eleventh commandment?
Don’t get caught
What would you like to tell the Indian President?
I’d like to be minister of transport
The last time you found yourself a penny less.
On a train to London
From HT Brunch, March 31
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