Who said “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end.…”?

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William Styron. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceInterview in Writers at Work, First Series (1958), edited by George Plimpton

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“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.”
— William Styron
VerifiedInterview in Writers at Work, First Series (1958), edited by George Plimpton · evidenceBooks and Reading
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Interview in Writers at Work, First Series (1958), edited by George Plimpton.

APA

Styron, W. (n.d.). A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2880-a-great-book-should-leave-you-with-many/

MLA

Styron, William. “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2880-a-great-book-should-leave-you-with-many/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Styron, William. “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2880-a-great-book-should-leave-you-with-many/.

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