The clue to book jacket photography is to look friendly and approachable, but not too glamorous.

I realize that I had always in my heart of hearts planned to write a biography of Marie Antoinette.

Normally I make myself swim, do exercises. For zest I like going to the cinema.

If I write that it was a cold day, you can be sure I know it was a cold day because Pepys told us.

I'm very interested in good and evil and the moral natures of people.

It can be a long gap between the emergence of fully researched historical biographies.

Mary Queen of Scots was my first love, and that is always something special.