About John Boyne: John Boyne is an Irish novelist. He is the author of nine novels for adults and four novels for younger readers. His novels are published in 48 languages.
I suppose books are my real passion in life.
It's a wonderful thing to write for children.
Children's authors don't talk down or patronise their younger readers.
Unless you're very boring, I think most people who've lived long enough have something in their past which will never go away.
I don't buy into the idea that an Irish writer should write about Ireland, or a gay writer should write about being gay.
What makes a classic is difficult to define. It's entirely subjective, of course. And the term is employed far too promiscuously.
I would have dearly liked to close the French doors between us for a bit of peace, but Mam wouldn't allow it; she said that solitude would give me ideas and the last thing a boy of my age needed was ideas.
He didn't want to play football. He wanted to be told the truth.
Let's not play games, Mr. Cratchett," I replied. "I wanted to let you know that I'll be coming in for an appointment with Mr. Raisin on Tuesday morning at eleven o'clock. I shall need about an hour and would prefer it if we were not disturbed during ...
People try to glorify war, particularly those who aren't actually fighting in them. People tend to make heroes of those who are fighting in them.
I am opposed to war, to killing people, to any kind of hatred and violence.
War today is such a more visible thing. We see it on television, on CNN. In 1914, war was a concept.
