And so to the professor, my itinerant in time and space, he who has featured in many a fascinating conversation.  What’s he doing there? What does he add to the story? Why does he speak in riddles?

Late in the century, decades before the writing, I had the notion that the Twentieth Century itself might play a role in the novel, become a character – act as antagonist. The tale is of struggle against the times, but could the times themselves be personified? 

The first draft had "The Century" as literal character, unchanneled, clunky. Then a lockdown re-read of Eric Hobsbawm – The Age of Extremes a sense check for the novel – prompted a brainwave: the Century might be given life through his lecture. Acknowledged after the text, though unnamed within, the blessing of Eric’s estate enabled my character to be based upon him. By the end (no spoilers!) it becomes possible to conceive that the professor has told the whole story. A word though: I'm undecided as to whether he’s actually doing that!