The great European dream was to diminish militant nationalism. We would all be happy Europeans together. But we are going to see the old monster of militant nationalism being awoken when people realise how little control their politicians have.

To begin impatiently is the worst mistake a writer can make

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.

The duty of a historian is simply to understand and then convey that understanding, no more than that.

The British bombing of Caen beginning on D-Day in particular was stupid, counter-productive and above all very close to a war crime.

I am not someone who believes I am going to find a historical scoop.

I can't envisage stopping writing.