Lives in previous centuries for women are largely a matter of class. It would have been fun to have been a rich, privileged woman in the 18th century, but no fun at all to be her maid.

My mother, who was quite sharp when I was young, became utterly mild.

I think there has been a great deal of valuable revisionism in women's history.

The concentration in my book on Marie Antoinette's childhood and on her family influences. It is surprising how some books actually start with her arrival in France!

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

I think there's a tremendous split between people who've been through a war and people who haven't.

People in my books tend to get their just deserts, even if not at the hands of the police.