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P.B. Kerr

Also writes as Philip Kerr.

Philip Kerr (P.B. Kerr) was a British author of both adult fiction and non-fiction, most notably the Bernie Gunther series, and of children's books, particularly the Children of the Lamp series.

Kerr was educated at a grammar school in Northampton. He studied law at the University of Birmingham from 1974–1980, achieving a masters degree. Kerr worked as an advertising copywriter for Saatchi and Saatchi before becoming a full-time writer in 1989. He wrote for the Sunday Times, the Evening Standard and the New Statesman.


“She herself was of the opinion that there would have been no need for a wish consultant if grammar had been taught properly in schools, so that mundanes could be trained to mean exactly what they said. Not wishing to be rude to her guest, however, she kept this opinion to herself.”
P.B. Kerr
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“May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door.”
P.B. Kerr
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“A second or two later, the reptile had been quite absorbed by a handsome, arrogant-looking Englishman smelling strongly of snobbery and snake.”
P.B. Kerr
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“May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.”
P.B. Kerr
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“To grant all a man's wishes is to take away his dreams and ambitions. Life is only worth living if you have something to strive for. To aim at.”
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“These things take time. If it's rushed then where's the good in goodbye?”
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“And tell them all about the books you've read. Better still, buy some more books and read them. That's an order. You can never read too many books.”
P.B. Kerr
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“A wish is a dish that's a lot like a fish: Once it's been eaten it's harder to throw back. - Mr. Rakshasas”
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“When something needs to be said, you look for a man to say it. But when something needs actually to be done, you look for a woman.”
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“But Philippa was hardly listening. "It's a riddle," she declared finally, pointing to the card in the strange little round window. "I think that if we answer the riddle we can get in. Listen 'The beginning of eternity. The end of time and space. The beginning of every end. And the end pf everyplace." John shrugged. "I don't get it." "No, but I do," Philippa said triumphantly. "The answer is the letter e. E is the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end, and the end of everyplace.”
P.B. Kerr
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