Claire Harman
@claireharman.bsky.social
Biographer, critic, emeritus Professor. Books on Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Fanny Burney, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sylvia Townsend Warner and Katherine Mansfield. Also Murder by the Book, a Victorian literary true-crime.
www.claireharman.com
www.claireharman.com
12/12
more jokes. Since it seemed it would never get published, I thought I'd at least have some fun with the old story.
How have you conquered the world?
Genius, clear English, sly jokes, irresistible heroes, critical fortune and the invention of videotape. Simple, really.
more jokes. Since it seemed it would never get published, I thought I'd at least have some fun with the old story.
How have you conquered the world?
Genius, clear English, sly jokes, irresistible heroes, critical fortune and the invention of videotape. Simple, really.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
12/12
more jokes. Since it seemed it would never get published, I thought I'd at least have some fun with the old story.
How have you conquered the world?
Genius, clear English, sly jokes, irresistible heroes, critical fortune and the invention of videotape. Simple, really.
more jokes. Since it seemed it would never get published, I thought I'd at least have some fun with the old story.
How have you conquered the world?
Genius, clear English, sly jokes, irresistible heroes, critical fortune and the invention of videotape. Simple, really.
11/12
Do you think you could be more experimental with your writing because you were unpublished, with no commercial and popular pressures?
I think that was true for ‘Susan’, or rather ‘Catherine’ – sorry, that’s Northanger Abbey to you – I rewrote that for years and kept adding
Do you think you could be more experimental with your writing because you were unpublished, with no commercial and popular pressures?
I think that was true for ‘Susan’, or rather ‘Catherine’ – sorry, that’s Northanger Abbey to you – I rewrote that for years and kept adding
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
11/12
Do you think you could be more experimental with your writing because you were unpublished, with no commercial and popular pressures?
I think that was true for ‘Susan’, or rather ‘Catherine’ – sorry, that’s Northanger Abbey to you – I rewrote that for years and kept adding
Do you think you could be more experimental with your writing because you were unpublished, with no commercial and popular pressures?
I think that was true for ‘Susan’, or rather ‘Catherine’ – sorry, that’s Northanger Abbey to you – I rewrote that for years and kept adding
10/12
When was the last time you cried?
When a schoolboy fell off the Winchester coach just outside our house. It really was terribly funny.
What advice would you give Bridget Jones?
Isn’t she the Digweeds’ scullery maid? I’d advise her to use less blacking on the hearth.
When was the last time you cried?
When a schoolboy fell off the Winchester coach just outside our house. It really was terribly funny.
What advice would you give Bridget Jones?
Isn’t she the Digweeds’ scullery maid? I’d advise her to use less blacking on the hearth.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
10/12
When was the last time you cried?
When a schoolboy fell off the Winchester coach just outside our house. It really was terribly funny.
What advice would you give Bridget Jones?
Isn’t she the Digweeds’ scullery maid? I’d advise her to use less blacking on the hearth.
When was the last time you cried?
When a schoolboy fell off the Winchester coach just outside our house. It really was terribly funny.
What advice would you give Bridget Jones?
Isn’t she the Digweeds’ scullery maid? I’d advise her to use less blacking on the hearth.
9/12
and being dead didn’t help much either. I would have driven a much harder bargain with publishers for my posthumous works than did my dear brother and sister, but they, kind creatures, were unconcerned with literary posterity.
and being dead didn’t help much either. I would have driven a much harder bargain with publishers for my posthumous works than did my dear brother and sister, but they, kind creatures, were unconcerned with literary posterity.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
9/12
and being dead didn’t help much either. I would have driven a much harder bargain with publishers for my posthumous works than did my dear brother and sister, but they, kind creatures, were unconcerned with literary posterity.
and being dead didn’t help much either. I would have driven a much harder bargain with publishers for my posthumous works than did my dear brother and sister, but they, kind creatures, were unconcerned with literary posterity.
8/12
by the author of 'Waverley'. I would secretly have loved to be a poet but I’m afraid haven’t the talent.
How do you explain being out of print and out of fashion between the 1820s-1860s?
The big historical and romantic novel was in the ascendant,
by the author of 'Waverley'. I would secretly have loved to be a poet but I’m afraid haven’t the talent.
How do you explain being out of print and out of fashion between the 1820s-1860s?
The big historical and romantic novel was in the ascendant,
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
8/12
by the author of 'Waverley'. I would secretly have loved to be a poet but I’m afraid haven’t the talent.
How do you explain being out of print and out of fashion between the 1820s-1860s?
The big historical and romantic novel was in the ascendant,
by the author of 'Waverley'. I would secretly have loved to be a poet but I’m afraid haven’t the talent.
How do you explain being out of print and out of fashion between the 1820s-1860s?
The big historical and romantic novel was in the ascendant,
7/12
Do you agree the key to the success of your six novels is the 'boy meets girl - girls gets boy' plot?
Yes, very satisfying and not much like real life. I put the real life bits in everywhere else.
What is the book you wished you had written?
The Lay of Marmion,
Do you agree the key to the success of your six novels is the 'boy meets girl - girls gets boy' plot?
Yes, very satisfying and not much like real life. I put the real life bits in everywhere else.
What is the book you wished you had written?
The Lay of Marmion,
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
7/12
Do you agree the key to the success of your six novels is the 'boy meets girl - girls gets boy' plot?
Yes, very satisfying and not much like real life. I put the real life bits in everywhere else.
What is the book you wished you had written?
The Lay of Marmion,
Do you agree the key to the success of your six novels is the 'boy meets girl - girls gets boy' plot?
Yes, very satisfying and not much like real life. I put the real life bits in everywhere else.
What is the book you wished you had written?
The Lay of Marmion,
6/12
What do you think of pretty girls who gossip?
I think they make very good copy.
Do you keep a diary?
A copious one . I’m going to leave it, with all my personal papers, to my beloved sister, Cassandra.
Has your irony always been appreciated?
What irony?
What do you think of pretty girls who gossip?
I think they make very good copy.
Do you keep a diary?
A copious one . I’m going to leave it, with all my personal papers, to my beloved sister, Cassandra.
Has your irony always been appreciated?
What irony?
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
6/12
What do you think of pretty girls who gossip?
I think they make very good copy.
Do you keep a diary?
A copious one . I’m going to leave it, with all my personal papers, to my beloved sister, Cassandra.
Has your irony always been appreciated?
What irony?
What do you think of pretty girls who gossip?
I think they make very good copy.
Do you keep a diary?
A copious one . I’m going to leave it, with all my personal papers, to my beloved sister, Cassandra.
Has your irony always been appreciated?
What irony?
5/12
‘This must be nonsense I’m sure, from the title’.
Favourite (Austen) character?
I am particularly fond of a character named Emma Woodhouse, though I don’t think anyone else will like her much - if that book ever gets published.
‘This must be nonsense I’m sure, from the title’.
Favourite (Austen) character?
I am particularly fond of a character named Emma Woodhouse, though I don’t think anyone else will like her much - if that book ever gets published.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
5/12
‘This must be nonsense I’m sure, from the title’.
Favourite (Austen) character?
I am particularly fond of a character named Emma Woodhouse, though I don’t think anyone else will like her much - if that book ever gets published.
‘This must be nonsense I’m sure, from the title’.
Favourite (Austen) character?
I am particularly fond of a character named Emma Woodhouse, though I don’t think anyone else will like her much - if that book ever gets published.
4/12
Do you regret publishing anonymously?
Not in the least. It would have been improper to do otherwise, and some of my most enjoyable moments as an author have come from it. My niece Anna took one look at Sense and Sensibility in Alton circulating library and said
Do you regret publishing anonymously?
Not in the least. It would have been improper to do otherwise, and some of my most enjoyable moments as an author have come from it. My niece Anna took one look at Sense and Sensibility in Alton circulating library and said
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
4/12
Do you regret publishing anonymously?
Not in the least. It would have been improper to do otherwise, and some of my most enjoyable moments as an author have come from it. My niece Anna took one look at Sense and Sensibility in Alton circulating library and said
Do you regret publishing anonymously?
Not in the least. It would have been improper to do otherwise, and some of my most enjoyable moments as an author have come from it. My niece Anna took one look at Sense and Sensibility in Alton circulating library and said
3/12
What do you think of being described as 'addicted to literary composition'?
I have to admit that's fair. I’ve thought about little else since the age of ten. I should have read more & written less in those years, I suppose; then I might have turned out grand and ponderous.
What do you think of being described as 'addicted to literary composition'?
I have to admit that's fair. I’ve thought about little else since the age of ten. I should have read more & written less in those years, I suppose; then I might have turned out grand and ponderous.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
3/12
What do you think of being described as 'addicted to literary composition'?
I have to admit that's fair. I’ve thought about little else since the age of ten. I should have read more & written less in those years, I suppose; then I might have turned out grand and ponderous.
What do you think of being described as 'addicted to literary composition'?
I have to admit that's fair. I’ve thought about little else since the age of ten. I should have read more & written less in those years, I suppose; then I might have turned out grand and ponderous.
2/12
What would you choose: wealth or beauty?
Either would do. One leads to the other.
Marriage or literary success?
An easy choice there. I’ve never heard anyone complain about the sorrows and disappointments of literary success.
What would you choose: wealth or beauty?
Either would do. One leads to the other.
Marriage or literary success?
An easy choice there. I’ve never heard anyone complain about the sorrows and disappointments of literary success.
November 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
2/12
What would you choose: wealth or beauty?
Either would do. One leads to the other.
Marriage or literary success?
An easy choice there. I’ve never heard anyone complain about the sorrows and disappointments of literary success.
What would you choose: wealth or beauty?
Either would do. One leads to the other.
Marriage or literary success?
An easy choice there. I’ve never heard anyone complain about the sorrows and disappointments of literary success.
You too, Jeff, and congratulations again on your wonderful book.
July 25, 2025 at 8:35 AM
You too, Jeff, and congratulations again on your wonderful book.