“‘The Booker made me a lot of money. I didn’t realise that all over the world, people will read a book just because it won the Booker prize.’ A delicious pause. ‘Not something I would do myself… But then one goes into some quite other, private region to produce a book.’ He gives me a knowing look. ‘I think the Booker can drive people quite mad. That’s why it’s good to be detached from it.'”