“There is this myth that I was formed on Henry James. I had hardly read anything of him when I started to write. It must be because I take more trouble, perhaps, with words than authors usually do these days. James is a consummate writer, but you do feel it’s like the needle on the old gramophone, that it’s got stuck and you want to move it on. Also, I have to say, I think I’m funnier than Henry James.”
Shirley Hazzard (thanks to Sarah for the link)