3 Quotes by Hermione Lee

Writing a biography is not a love affair. It’s not a marriage. It’s a job, it’s a piece of work.

Some cynical biographer said to me, Make sure it’s a good death. Make sure you’re not picking someone who just declined.

In a political discussion about the empire, Harold the diplomat argued for the benefits of colonial rule: ‘our English genius is for government.’ Raymond opposed him: ‘The governed don’t seem to enjoy it.