To begin impatiently is the worst mistake a writer can make

I just love the days when you come out of the archives with half a dozen excellent descriptions or poignant accounts of personal experiences.

The vital thing for me is to integrate the history from above with the history from below because only in that way can you show the true consequences of the decisions of Hitler or Stalin or whomever on the ordinary civilians caught up in the battle.

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.

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.

I think it's outrageous if a historian has a 'leading thought' because it means they will select their material according to their thesis

I just write the sort of book that I would enjoy reading myself, a book that is both scholarly and recreates the experience of people at that time.