“If his 1985 autobiography, the wrily entitled Here Lies Eric Ambler, is to be believed, his ambition as a young man was to be a playwright.”

“But then he added, rather wrily, 'I rather regret the invention of art history.”

“He also wryly acknowledges that he risks sounding like a grumpy old man pining for an overly-romanticised past.”

“He wrote one inimitably brilliant work, one wryly enjoyable one, some amusing pieces, and everything else is admirable but largely unreadable.”

“And that the most dignified thing we ageing grandes dames can do is smile wryly, surrender and follow the sun.”