Marie-Laure Ryan

A French formula for successful novels lists the following ingredients: religion, sex, aristocracy, and mystery. (The last one is a strategic point). According to this formula, the most tellable story reads: "Mon Dieu, dit la Marquise, je suis enceinte et ne sais pas de qui."

There cannot be a story without a conflict.

Contemplated in itself, this world is no more than a meaningless spectacle.