I have an idea, and I have a perpetrator, and I write the book along those lines, and when I get to the last chapter, I change the perpetrator so that if I can deceive myself, I can deceive the reader.
Ruth RendellRead
I always know when a novel is going to be a Barbara Vine one. In fact I believe that if I weren't to write it as Barbara Vine, I wouldn't be able to write it at all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the unique identity of a writer and how it shapes their work.
Ruth Rendell expresses her belief that her alter ego, Barbara Vine, is essential to her creative process. This illustrates the idea that an author's identity and persona can condition their artistic expression, suggesting that the character of a writer can influence the narratives they create and how they are perceived by the audience.
Themes
WritingIdentityCreativityArtistic ExpressionAuthor
In practice
Example use cases
During a literary discussion on the importance of authorial identity.
More from Ruth Rendell
All quotes →While most of the things you've worried about have never happened, it's a different story with the things you haven't worried about. They are the ones that happen.
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