Anita Brookner Quotes

A collection of quotes by Anita Brookner.

Anita Brookner (1928-2016) was a British author and art historian known for her introspective novels exploring themes of loneliness, love, and disappointment. She was born on July 16, 1928, in London, England, to a Polish Jewish family. Brookner attended James Allen's Girls' School and later studied at King's College, London, and the Courtauld Institute of Art where she specialized in 18th-century painting.

Before becoming a successful writer, Brookner pursued a career in academia as a lecturer and art historian. She taught at the University of Reading and the Courtauld Institute, where she specialized in French art, particularly the works of Jean-Baptiste Greuze.

In 1981, Brookner published her first novel, "A Start in Life," which won the prestigious Booker Prize. This marked the beginning of her prolific writing career, during which she produced over 20 novels. Notable works include "Hotel du Lac" (1984), which won the Booker Prize, and "The Misalliance" (1986), which explores the complexities of love and marriage.

Brookner's novels typically revolve around the inner world of her characters, often focusing on the lives of single, middle-aged women who struggle with unfulfilled desires and the passage of time. Her writing is characterized by its spare prose, psychological insight, and melancholic themes.

Anita Brookner received numerous awards and honors for her contribution to literature, including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1990. She continued writing until her death on March 10, 2016, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that delves deeply into the human condition.

What is interesting about self-analysis is that it leads now

What is interesting about self-analysis is that it leads nowhere -- it is an art form in itself.

Anita Brookner

Identity

You can never betray the people who are dead, so you go on b

You can never betray the people who are dead, so you go on being a public Jew; the dead can't answer slurs, but I'm here. I would love to think that Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, but he doesn't.

Anita Brookner

Religion

She was a handsome woman of forty-five and would remain so f

She was a handsome woman of forty-five and would remain so for many years.

Anita Brookner

Age

A man can go from being a lover to being a stranger in three

A man can go from being a lover to being a stranger in three moves flat but a woman under the guise of friendship will engage in acts of duplicity which come to light very much later. There are different species of self-justification.

Anita Brookner

Men & Women