Jonathan Buckley, whose book *The Setting of One Boat* is longlisted for the Booker Prize, draws inspiration from his experiences and readings, particularly in ancient Greek culture. The idea of selfhood has been a consistent theme in his work, though he is unsure why they converged in his latest novel at this particular time.
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Buckley, who did not immerse himself in fiction until his mid-teens, credits T.S. Eliot's *The Waste Land* and his experience performing as Macbeth in a school production as pivotal moments that steered him toward literature. Despite not initially envisioning a future as a writer, he felt compelled to write, turning what began as sporadic efforts into a daily ritual.
He frequently revisits works such as *Ulysses* and *Finnegans Wake*, and for the past decade, has read Dante’s *Divine Comedy* annually, dedicating three months to one canto per day. He describes Dante and Joyce as inexhaustible authors who enrich his understanding.
Among the texts that have significantly influenced his worldview, Buckley highlights Ludwig Wittgenstein’s *Philosophical Investigations*, along with the works of Lichtenberg and Montaigne, which he finds continually refreshing. His thoughts on novel-writing have been shaped by *Ulysses*, Robert Musil's *The Man Without Qualities*, and Marcel Proust, among others. He considers *Tristram Shandy* and *Moby-Dick* as formative prior works, and names contemporary authors like Pascal Quignard and Gerald Murnane as important influences.
Currently, he is engaged with Peter Weiss’s *The Aesthetics of Resistance*, a dense exploration of left-wing resistance in Nazi Germany. He also enjoys the collected poems of A.R. Ammons and the journals of R.F. Langley.
When asked about essential reads, Buckley recommends Muriel Spark’s *The Driver’s Seat*. He emphasizes the importance of writing with a notebook and prefers to write in silence at his desk, relying on music solely during leisure time.
For his ideal literary gathering, Buckley envisions an intimate afternoon stroll with authors like Eudora Welty or William Maxwell, discussing any topics they choose.