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

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.

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.

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

I have always made an effort to render every detail of my reality with the greatest accuracy; but I have never paid attention to whether my presentation of historical facts was an exact one.

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

What is a historian, anyway? It is someone who uses facts to record the development of humanity.