Almost all people have this potential for evil, which would be unleashed only under certain dangerous social circumstances.

Your first duty as a writer is to write to please yourself. And you have no duty towards anyone else.

There isn't much discussion of ruling class in America even in Boston, probably one of the most class-conscious cities in the country?

There isn't much in the way of pure communist spirit, because the whole nation seems to be engaged in capitalistic enterprises. Much of the country still operates under government control.

After working as a journalist I went to a writing program at Johns Hopkins. It was interesting because it was neither journalistic nor historical, but it emphasized writing style, and afterwards I was asked to write my first book.

I have certainly amassed many historical research gathering skills.

When you believe you have a future, you think in terms of generations and years. When you do not, you live not just by the day — but by the minute.