After closely examining my conscience, I venture to state that in my historical novels I intended the content to be just as modern and up-to-date as in the contemporary ones.

From depicting the past, so goes the suspicion, it is a short step to glorifying the past.

Asking the author of historical novels to teach you about history is like expecting the composer of a melody to provide answers about radio transmission.

Like the philosopher, the author views his task as one of establishing a clear connection between life and history, and of making the past bear fruit for the present and future.

Ever since my youth it has disturbed me that of the literary works that survived their own epoch, so many dealt with historical rather than contemporary subjects.

It is only the strong who are strengthened by suffering; the weak are made weaker.

An author who sets about to depict events of the past that have run their course is suspected of wishing to avoid the problems of the present day, of being, in other words, a reactionary.