I think one of the great disasters (in military history) is the way that the Second World War has become the defining reference point for every crisis and every conflict.

It takes me three or four years to research and write each book and the individual stories stay with you for a long time afterwards.

When I was a child I had something called Perthes' Disease which meant I was on crutches, so I was bullied at school and all that sort of stuff.

I believe passionately in preemptive pessimism, especially before a book comes out. I expect the worst both from reviewers and sales, and then, with any luck, I may be proved wrong.

I feel slightly uneasy at the way historians are consulted as if history is going to repeat itself. It never does.

When I was younger I used to get my best writing done at night, but now it has to be during the day. I usually finish work at half past seven, then go back to the house to open a bottle of wine, have dinner, and then read or watch television.

The great help of being in the Army is to understand why are the armies clever in what they describe as emotional intelligence, making soldiers come to terms with the death of comrades by certain rituals.