Things I Don't Want to Know is a unique response to George Orwell from one of our most vital contemporary writers. Taking Orwell's famous list of motives for writing as the jumping-off point for a sequence of thrilling reflections on the writing life, this is a perfect companion not just to Orwell's essay, but also to Levy's own, essential oeuvre. 'A powerful feminist response to Orwell's 'Why I Write'.' New Statesman 'Inspired by Orwell, another unique writer tells her tale. Marvellously right.' Independent 'Superb sharpness and originality of imagination. It is feminist and political while being an inspiring work of writing.' Marina Warner 'Original, unmissable. like chancing upon an oasis. The writing is of such quality that you want to drink it slowly.' Kate Kellaway, Guardian 'In her powerful rejoinder to Orwell, Deborah Levy responds to his proposed motives for writing - 'sheer egoism', 'aesthetic enthusiasm', 'historical impulse' and 'political purpose' - with illuminating moments of autobiography. A vivid, striking account of a writer's life, which feminises and personalises Orwell's blunt assertions.' Spectator 'It will be quoted for many years to come.' Irish Examiner

Author Biography

Deborah Levy is a British playwright, novelist and poet. She is the author of six novels, Beautiful Mutants (1986); Swallowing Geography (1993); The Unloved (1994); Billy & Girl (1996), Swimming Home (2011), which was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize 2012 as well as the Jewish Quarterly Wingate Prize, and Hot Milk (2016). Deborah is also the author of a collection of short stories, Black Vodka (2013), which was shortlisted for the BBC International Short Story Award and the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. She has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC.