It was a very funny conference. I knew [Christopher Hitchens] before that. He had always been a good angel to me. He once stole a phrase from me that came out of his mouth on television. I saw his eyes move sideways. I thought, It's alright, you can have it! The conference was light on women. Salman Rushdie showed up, they were doing their own thing. I didn't feel neglected!

[Margaret Thatcher] aroused such strong loathing in so many people. That's the fact that interests me.

I am not a historian. I don't see what I do as being a rival to biography.

I've got so many ideas, and sometimes the more exhausted my body gets, the more active my mind gets.

My first book was a historical novel. I started writing in 1974. In those days, historical novels meant ladies with swelling bosoms on the cover. Basically, it meant historical romance. It was not respectable as a genre.

I think if the monarchy were removed tomorrow, it wouldn't have a huge effect on the national mind-set.

He thinks, I remembered you, Thomas More, but you didn't remember me. You never even saw me coming.