But you cannot expect every writer to dwell on human suffering. I think my books do deal with grave issues. People who say they are too positive probably haven't read them.

Africa was full of people in need of help and there had to be a limit. You simply could not help everybody; but you could at least help those who came into your life. That principle allowed you to deal with the suffering you saw. That was your suffering. Other people would have to deal with the suffering that they, in their turn, came across.

Fiction is able to encompass books that are bleak and which dwell on the manifold and terrible problems of our times. But I don't think that all books need to have that particular focus.

Righteous is the one who was able to demonstrate compassion in face of human suffering.

You do not have to ladle on the impasto to make a point about human frailty or ambitions.

As a writer, I have readers who will have a range of political views. I don't think they look to me for political guidance.