To begin impatiently is the worst mistake a writer can make

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.

I can't envisage stopping writing.

The blurring of fact and fiction has great commercial potential, which is bound to be corrupting in historical terms.

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.

I joined the Army in 1965 and served with the 11th Hussars, which I loved. The regiment was so relaxed - a salute was more like a friendly wave.

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.