How to write an obituary

That's right, exactly.

Or sometimes it was about a national figure.

I remember reading only the obituary of Wordsworth in the Times, two full, huge pages.

But you're right, they were encomiums.

They were... eulogies, if you like, with not much criticism in them.

And why was that the tradition? I think it was just respectful.

I can remember this myself up to the 1960s, when I'm afraid to say I was about.

President Kennedy, I think now the papers would be full of all his doings with his mistresses and so on.

But there was not a word at the time.

When did that start to change in the world of obituaries?

It was a great revolution here in the 1980s, and it was the Independent and the Daily Telegraph who started it.

And they began to publish obituaries that didn't just give the achievements of a person, but they actually put them in warts and all.

They certainly didn't want to sugarcoat their lives.

They were going to tell them exactly as they were.

And obituaries then became much more fun to read.

And I think they turned into an art form after that.

And then, not to give away your trade secrets, but what would you say the formula you've arrived at is now?

It's my luck, really.

It's because I only have a thousand words.

So I can't go through all those bits and pieces and all the chronology of a life.

And I always feel going through the chronology deadens the life anyway.

And a lot of parts don't really have a bearing on the character.

So I would rather start by... homing in on whatever their obsession was, because everyone has a particular reason that they think they're here.

And that's what makes them interesting to me.

And what are some methods you come up with for doing that so successfully?