A: Perhaps, to a degree. Stendhal, Giovanni Verga, Joyce Joyce Joyce, other Russians, Djuna Barnes, a.o.

Any young writers that you admire now or that you see mimicking your style?

A: Not really, but I read little modern writers, lack of time mostly.

What books are you reading at the moment?

A: Only 1812 by Paul Britten Austin.

How many books have you written now, Hans - divided into fiction and nonfiction?

A: Fourteen novels so far and six non-fiction books, give or take one or to.

b Of the two categories, would you say one is closer to your heart - fiction or nonfiction?

A: I would say fiction. At its best, literature is more revealing to the human condition than any non-fiction.

And in that category, do you have a particular or sentimental favorite of all time, or do you value each of your books for different reasons. So many writers I interview value different books for different reasons or times in their life. What about you? Which book, if there is a favorite and why that one?

A: Perhaps — "perhaps" because I don't usually think in these terms, "I Know what I'm doing" and" The Kleber Flight" because rereading some of that I am surprised at myself that I got it just right.

You mentioned in an earlier question that you had been in some tricky situations while working as a foreign correspondent, though you hadn't feared for your life. I think that must take incredible bravery. Do you think it's that, or is it more that you just got wrapped up in what you were doing and so it wasn't an issue for you?

A: No bravery involved, just a certain laissez-faire shrug.

What advice would you give any young radicals today? Say, those who are looking to change the world in some way and still have that youthful optimism and belief?

A: I would perhaps call it a 19th century optimism - youthfulness doesn't enter into it. "Keep going," I'd say, don't take yourself too seriously, take the world very seriously.

In your own words, what would you say makes someone a true revolutionary as you certainly have been and continue to be?

A: I cannot answer that, it is all much more iffy and changing. A belief in human justice, perhaps; finding in the fearful mystery of life a reason to make people's lives in general, and esp. children's lives as good as can be.

I know you once ran for office — which office was it? If after reading this, people want to vote for Hans Koning, what office would you fill?

A: I was running for Conn. state senator on a Green Party ticket. I came out second: the district was 80 % black-demo. (But then the Gov of CT put number 1 in his cabinet and I could have made it on the repeat election but decided time was better spent on writing.)