“My name is William Boyd and I’m here because I’ve got a new book out called The Predicament, which is number two in a trilogy,” said Boyd after his appearance in conversation with Olivia Cole at Chelsea Arts Festival. “I’m doing my bit to sell as many copies as possible.”
The novel, he explained, is “a Cold War spy thriller set in 1963” featuring “a young guy who is actually not a spy, he’s a travel writer but he’s been recruited by MI6 much to his disquiet and has embarked on a series of adventures and actually discovers he’s quite good at the job.”
It’s the kind of story only William Boyd could tell – a masterclass in character, intrigue and wit, delivered by one of Britain’s most enduring storytellers. Get your copy of The Predicament here.
Chelsea, Home and Inspiration
Boyd’s conversation with journalist Olivia Cole at Chelsea Arts Festival was full of reflections on writing and place – fitting, given his deep ties to the local area. “I do live in Chelsea,” he said, smiling. “I think Chelsea is important in my personal universe because it’s been the home of so many artists and writers. Within 200 yards of my house there are about ten blue plaques of famous painters and writers and so on.”
For him, that history creates a particular creative charge. “It has a kind of artistic vibe about it,” he said, “but it’s also very pretty – you know, it’s low level, very leafy, very green. It’s a lovely place to live, one of London’s loveliest villages if you can put it that way. So I’ve lived here for over 30 years now and I’m not moving.”
Chelsea’s creative legacy remains close to Boyd’s heart. “If you look hard enough you can still find little corners of Chelsea that someone from the 1920s would recognise,” he said. “And so that’s what I like about it. I’m a member of the Chelsea Arts Club, which is a bastion of bohemian life in Chelsea, so if I ever need a shot of it I can just go to the club and have a drink.”
On Ideas and Inspiration
The novelist, whose career spans over four decades and includes modern classics like Any Human Heart and Restless, spoke about how ideas come to him after so many years of writing. “I think for most novelists – inspiration is something that just arrives at random,” he explained. “It’s not something you can self-generate, ‘I’m going to be inspired today.’ And it’s very true with me – I hear something, I see something or I read something and suddenly a light bulb goes on above your head and you think this could be a 350-page novel.”
When that happens, William Boyd is ready. “I write it down in a notebook,” he said. “And so I always have about three or four ideas for my next novel because the other terror is writer’s block, and this method of storing your ideas preempts writer’s block.”
Writing for the Right Reader
Asked whether he writes for himself or for others, Boyd didn’t hesitate. “I think if you’re a serious novelist – if you’re a literary novelist – you are writing the kind of book you would like to read, and you hope that other readers will share the same opinion,” he said.
“But I think if you try to second guess an audience, you’re sort of doomed in a way because you’re not being true to yourself. So I think most serious writers write for themselves. You are your own ideal reader.”
William Boyd’s reflections, delivered with his trademark insight and humour, perfectly captured the mood of the event – thoughtful, generous, and steeped in a love of craft and culture. Like his corner of Chelsea, his work continues to balance tradition and reinvention – leafy, literary, and quietly brilliant. Stay tuned for more news on the next iteration of Chelsea Arts Festival.
