7 months ago

Celebrated British Writers Announce Retirement

Celebrated British Writers Announce Retirement
Should there be a retirement age for writers? · livemint.com

Two famous British writers, Julian Barnes and Jeffrey Archer, have decided to stop writing novels.

Julian Barnes, who is 80, said he will miss writing but wants to do it with full conviction.

Jeffrey Archer, who is 85, said he won't be able to write another book as good as his upcoming one, 'Adam and Eve'.

Both plan to keep writing in other ways, like journalism and short stories.

Some writers, like John Milton and Nirad C. Chaudhuri, have written well into old age.

Others, like Philip Roth, have retired to avoid writing bad books.

It's not common for successful writers to retire, but when they do, it's often a way to step back from being in the public eye.

For Barnes, it might also be a way to deal with his illness.

Key facts

Julian Barnes
80-year-old writer retiring from novel writing, continuing journalism
Jeffrey Archer
85-year-old writer retiring from novel writing, continuing short stories
Departure(s)
Julian Barnes' latest novel
Adam and Eve
Jeffrey Archer's forthcoming final novel
John Milton
Wrote despite blindness, used daughters as amanuensis
Nirad C. Chaudhuri
Published into his 90s, last book at 99
J.D. Salinger
Became a recluse but continued writing
Philip Roth
Retired in 2012 to avoid mediocre books
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Wrote until his last years, last novel published posthumously in 2024
Anne Tyler
Continued writing fine books past her initial retirement plan
Charles Bukowski
Had a fallow decade before making a comeback

Quotes

Julian Barnes

British writer and recipient of the Man Booker Prize

“I will miss it, but at the same time it would be foolish to do it if I didn’t do it with full conviction.”
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Jeffrey Archer

British author and former politician known for his best-selling novels and controversies

“At the age of 85 I could never hope to equal it again.”
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Sources

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