Sarah Perry Opens Up on Personal Struggles and Literary Passions
In a candid interview, acclaimed British author Sarah Perry, 46, has revealed intimate details about her personality, past disappointments, and deepest wishes. The writer, best known for her award-winning novel The Essex Serpent, did not hold back when examining her own character flaws and life experiences.
Self-Reflection and Personal Traits
Perry described herself as "monstrously judgmental" when asked about the trait she most deplores in herself, comparing the experience to "talking to the pope." She identified impatience, ambition, and happiness as the three words that best describe her personality. The author also confessed to maintaining the unappealing habit of wiping her nose on her sleeve, despite her literary success.
When discussing fears related to aging, Perry expressed particular concern about losing the ability to hear crickets in summer, noting this represents a specific hearing frequency that diminishes with time. She also mentioned disliking the appearance of dark chin hairs that have emerged as she's grown older.
Academic Disappointment and Silver Linings
One of Perry's most significant revelations concerned her educational history. She disclosed that flunking her history A-level in 1998 cost her a place at Cambridge University, describing it as "absolutely devastating" at the time for a teenager who was "rather pleased with herself."
However, the author now views this setback differently, stating she's "really glad" about how events unfolded. Perry explained that she now embraces her educational background at Anglia Polytechnic University (now Anglia Ruskin University), using what she calls the "I went to a polytechnic" narrative as part of her identity.
Literary Influences and Personal Life
When asked what extinct thing she would bring back to life, Perry immediately chose late author Hilary Mantel, declaring "She was my queen." This heartfelt tribute underscores Mantel's significant influence on Perry's literary world.
The author, who is married and lives in Norfolk, described her husband Rob and writing as "exactly level pegging" when asked about the greatest love of her life. She defined love as feeling "like it's worth being alive." Perry wears a gold bangle made from family jewelry from both her and her husband's families as her most treasured possession, noting she never removes it.
Philosophical Perspectives and Regrets
Perry admitted to frequently saying "I love you" without meaning it and described herself as too obdurate to change her mind about significant matters. Her greatest fear is not being loved, while lateness represents the trait she most deplores in others.
Regarding contemporary politics, Perry expressed "appalled pity" rather than despising figures like Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and Nigel Farage, suggesting they "squander your life on wickedness and stupidity."
Creative Aspirations and Beliefs
The author revealed that her desired superpower would be the ability to dance, confessing "I cannot dance" and marveling at those who can as if they "might as well be flying." She imagined actress Olivia Colman would play her in a film adaptation of her life.
On spiritual matters, Perry acknowledged her failure at atheism despite recognizing its irrational aspects, stating she believes "when I die I'm going to glory." She identified the most important life lesson as recognizing that "every single morning the sun comes up and you get to try again."
Sarah Perry's literary achievements include The Essex Serpent, which won Waterstones Book of the Year in 2016 and was adapted for television, and Enlightenment, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize. Her most recent work, Death of an Ordinary Man, won the 2025 Nero Non-Fiction Book award, cementing her status as one of Britain's most significant contemporary authors.
