Francis Spufford
Full Name and Common Aliases
Francis Spufford is a British novelist, non-fiction writer, and critic.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 17, 1964.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: British
Professions: Novelist, Non-Fiction Writer, Critic
Early Life and Background
Francis Spufford was born in London, England. He comes from a literary family; his parents are both writers. His father, Francis Spufford, is a novelist and critic, while his mother, Julia Spencer-Jones, is a poet and editor.
Spufford's early life was marked by an interest in literature and writing. He spent most of his childhood in various locations across the United Kingdom due to his family's nomadic lifestyle. This experience would later influence his writing style and subject matter.
Major Accomplishments
Spufford began his writing career as a critic, contributing to publications such as The London Review of Books and The New Statesman. He then transitioned to fiction with the publication of his debut novel, "Red Plenty," in 2010. This novel explores the intersection of politics, economics, and culture during the Soviet era.
In addition to his literary accomplishments, Spufford has also been recognized for his non-fiction work. His book "Unapologetic: Why Philosophy Doesn't Have All the Answers" (2005) examines the role of philosophy in contemporary society.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Spufford's notable works include:
"Red Plenty," a novel set during the Soviet era, which explores themes of politics, economics, and culture.
"Unapologetic: Why Philosophy Doesn't Have All the Answers," a non-fiction book examining the role of philosophy in contemporary society.
Spufford's work often explores complex social and philosophical issues through engaging narratives.Impact and Legacy
Spufford's writing has been praised for its thought-provoking exploration of complex themes. His ability to combine philosophical ideas with narrative storytelling has made his works appealing to a wide range of readers.
His influence can be seen in the way he challenges readers' assumptions about history, politics, and culture. Through his writing, Spufford encourages readers to think critically about the world around them.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Spufford is widely quoted or remembered for several reasons:
His thought-provoking exploration of complex themes makes him a valuable source of insight.
His ability to combine philosophical ideas with narrative storytelling has made his works appealing to a wide range of readers.
Spufford's influence can be seen in the way he challenges readers' assumptions about history, politics, and culture.
Quotes by Francis Spufford
Emotions can certainly be misleading: they can fool you into believing stuff that is definitely, demonstrably untrue. Yet emotions are also our indispensable tool for navigating, for feeling our way through, the much larger domain of stuff that isn't susceptible to proof or disproof, that isn't checkable against the physical universe.
No, no, not in the law, it ain’t. Not in the end, I mean. When a man is dead, sense must be made of it; and it might as well be sense as serves the living, for it won’t serve the dead, nohow.
Some people ask nowadays what kind of a religion it is that chooses an instrument of torture for its symbol, as if the cross on churches must represent some kind of endorsement. The answer is: one that takes the existence of suffering seriously.
No, no, not in the law, it ain’t. Not in the end, I mean. When a man is dead, sense must be made of it; and it might.
Churches are vessels of hush, as well as everything else they are, and when I block out the distractions of vision, the silence is almost shockingly loud.
Belief demands that you dispense with illusion after illusion, while contemporary common sense requires continual, fluffy pretending – pretending that might as well be systematic, it’s so thoroughly incentivised by our culture.
By now the night tastes of nothing but ash. But nicotine substitutes for food, nicotine substitutes for sleep, and there is so little time left for the future, once all the demands of the present are taken care of.
He laid his white right hand tidily atop his white left hand, on the tabletop. Smith smiled appreciatively, but still declined to come out to play. Septimus tapped the toe of his shoe on the floor. Tap-tap-tap: a foot tutting.