Although The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose is a philosophical novel, it is humorous too. What was your motivation behind this unusual combination in your novel?
A knowledge of philosophy and a sense of humour form two strong aspects of my personality. It seems to me a common misconception that philosophy has to be presented in a serious, dry manner to be persuasive. On the contrary, I believe that humour is an extremely powerful vehicle for all manner of academic subjects, especially within the novel. The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose appeals to readers of varying levels of understanding of philosophy – those who, like me, have an academic background in the subject, and others who have no previous knowledge of philosophy but who finish my book with an interest in it.