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Louis Begley Biography

Novelist

Louis Begley, born on October 6, 1933, is an accomplished American novelist known for his profound psychological insights and critical exploration of social issues.

Related Quotes

“I'm not ashamed to admit that occasionally I've found myself aroused by my own depictions of sex.”

Found Sex My Own Ashamed Depiction

Author:Louis Begley

“I may well do some more polemical writing, if a subject that fires me up comes along. Apart from that possibility, I would like to continue to tell stories so long as I have stories to tell.”

Ifs Writing Wells May Long Stories Fire Subjects Possibility

Author:Louis Begley

“I have no interest in writing confessions, in deliberately baring myself to my readers. I prefer to remain behind a screen.”

Writing Interest Behinds Reader Screens Confession

Author:Louis Begley

“If a comparative-literature major had existed at Harvard College for undergraduates I would have surely gone in that direction.”

Ifs Literature Gone College Majors Harvard Comparative Literature

Author:Louis Begley

“As you know, I am a novelist, and I really want to write novels. But I knew enough about the Dreyfus case to understand immediately why what happened to Dreyfus was not merely a cause celebre from the end of the 19th century, but an event that could be shown to teach us lessons of the greatest importance for our own time.”

Knows Want Writing Ends Enough Causes Teach Cases Novel Happened Century Events Lessons Importance Novelists 19th Century

Author:Louis Begley

“I think I am less self-assured when I write English than I would be if I were writing in my first language. I have to test each sentence over and over to be sure that it's right, that I haven't introduced some element that isn't English.”

Ifs Thinking Writing Firsts Self Would Be Language Havens Elements Tests Sentences Assured

Author:Louis Begley

“I think that Jews - because they are a distinct, gifted and successful group that differentiates itself from societies in which it lives - are vulnerable wherever the rule of law is not paramount.”

Thinking Law Successful Groups Jew Vulnerable Gifted Rule Of Law Differentiate Paramount

Author:Louis Begley

“In legal practice, in the representation of clients, I have always felt deeply engaged, serene, and not all inclined to stand aside. I have always done whatever needed to be done, and have usually gotten my way.”

Way Done Felt Practice Needed My Way Engaged Clients Representation Serene

Author:Louis Begley

“My views about the safety of Jews in the world have not been changed by the work on the Dreyfus affair or, for that matter, by the work I did on Franz Kafka for the book on him I published a year before the Dreyfus book appeared.”

World Years Book Matter Views Changed Safety Affair Jew

Author:Louis Begley

About the Author

Born: October 6, 1933
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 9

Books & Sources

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