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.

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

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.

To begin impatiently is the worst mistake a writer can make

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

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.