John Kiszely

John talks history, interests and inspiration.
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John Kiszely, what first attracted you to the period or periods you work in?

From early childhood I`ve been an avid reader of history. Indeed, for most of my schooldays, when asked what I wanted for Christmas or birthday my answer was always `a history book, please`. (At times this was interpreted somewhat liberally. There was a period when I was given books of historical fiction by G A Henty, purveyor of ripping yarns about military derring-do around the Empire; I`m embarrassed to admit how much I enjoyed them.) Later I was drawn towards military history, in particular that of the late-nineteenth and early- to mid-twentieth centuries. At Sandhurst and at the staff college the focus of military historical study was, unsurprisingly, on much the same period and it was well taught, too. My own enthusiasm and focus in researching and writing has tended to follow suit, although by no means exclusively.

Can you tell us a little about how you research? Has the process changed over the years?

I love research, particularly of primary sources, and try to leave no stone unturned. That means it`s a lengthy business, but can be exciting: you never know when you`re going to strike gold. Has the process changed? It certainly has. Hugely. And just in the last decade. When starting research for my first book I was using pencil and paper, and a bog-standard camera. For my latest book I used my laptop and mobile-phone camera but still did a lot of work in the archives. During Covid, when almost all the archives were closed, I gravitated to on-line sources such as Internet Archive and was amazed how much could be achieved by doing so. Now, of course, an increasing amount of material in archives (such as the National Archive) is digitised, facilitating work from home, with time spent in archives hugely reduced by the use of smart photography.

The common phrase is that history is written by the victors. Do you think this is true?

Too often. Unsurprisingly, it can result in some very one-sided history – or no history at all. The 1940 Norway campaign is an interesting example. Few German authors have written about it (there having been limited appetite in Germany for accounts of the Second World War). Equally there has been little study of it in the UK – Britain having lost the campaign in humiliating fashion. This has been reflected in the British armed services where there appeared to be collective amnesia of the campaign, although the Royal Navy justifiably celebrate their gallant tactical action at Narvik. The fact that it was a largely-unknown campaign from which there was much to be learnt was one of the motivations for me to write what amounts to an inquest into it.

Are there any historians who helped shaped your career? Similarly, can you recommend three history books which budding historians should read?

When I was at Sandhurst the course included a year of academic study. The military history department was absolutely excellent and I was lucky enough to be taught by the doyen, John Keegan, who was brilliant. Later in my service I got to know Sir Michael Howard, for whom I had the greatest admiration, and who inspired me to get into print. What Three Books?  Michael Howard, The Franco-Prussian War – exemplary history;  Robert Strassler, The Landmark Thucydides – the best and most accessible introduction to the iconic historian; and Antony Beevor, Stalingrad – a gripping account based on meticulous research.

If you could meet any figure from history, who would it be and why? Also, if you could witness any event throughout history, what would it be?

So many figures on the short list. But I think the one who comes out top is the great Carthaginian general, Hannibal; and the event: his momentous victory over a Roman army almost twice the size of his own at Cannae in 216 BC. (The historian Polybius wrote, `The Roman army was swallowed up as if by an earthquake`.) But Hannibal failed to exploit his victory by not marching on Rome – a city in panic – and after a long campaign he was pursued back to Carthage and comprehensively defeated by Scipio Africanus at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC. Wow! So much to discuss!

 If you could add any period or subject to the history curriculum, what would it be?

I favour the British Empire being part of the history curriculum and not just as an optional extra, albeit that it is a highly contentious subject which requires to be taught with scrupulous objectivity and balance and without personal prejudice. Quite a tall order.

If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, either as a student or when you first started out as a writer, what would it be?

If you`re a historian keep a strict record of sources from the outset! When I first started writing I failed to do so – a stupid error I grew to regret and which I now take considerable pains not to repeat. I find it highly irritating when historians fail to provide the evidence of their quotations or assertions. It`s amazing how often quite well-known historians completely fail this test.

 Can you tell us a little bit about the project you are currently working on?

Right now I`m thoroughly enjoying a break between `projects`. I`ve got a few ideas about where I might go next but they`re all very embryonic!

John Kiszely is the author of General Hastings ‘Pug’ Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, Diplomat: A New Biography.