You don't just have people who wake up in the morning and say, "What evil things can I do today, because I'm Mr. Evil?" People do things for what they think are justified reasons. Everybody is the hero of their own story, and you have to keep that in mind. If you read a lot of history, as I do, even the worst and most monstrous people thought they were the good guys. We're all very tangled knots.

Historical fiction is not history. You're blending real events and actual historical personages with characters of your own creation.

I think life is a jape. Yours, mine, everyone's

Old stories are like old friends, she used to say. You have to visit them from time to time.

It had been more of a wish, actually, but it sounded better to call it a dream.

More details, more devils.

Nothing. My father is very good at doing nothing. He calls it thinking.