author interview Archives - Aspects of History

Carina McNally on Mithim

The novelist considers the inspiration behind her debut title, which blends history with Irish mythology to explore cultural erasure, the natural world and the forgotten lives of 17th-century women, in her conversation with Sadie Souter.

Carina McNally

Welcome to Aspects of History, Carina. Can you tell me a little about your starting point for Mithim – did you begin from a place of historical rigour or mythic imagination? Among various writing ventures it was definitely my stint reviewing for historical non-fiction...

John Pitts on Sir Gruffydd Donne: Knight of Kidwelly

The novelist discusses the life of the little-known Welsh knight Sir Gruffydd Donne, family history, his character's divided loyalties and the challenge of bringing 15th-century Wales to life.

John Pitts

John, many congratulations on the new book. Can you explain what inspired you to write about Sir Gruffydd Donne as the subject of the novel when there are so many better-known medieval Welsh figures? The whole undertaking of research and novel-writing goes back to the...

AoH Book Club: Brian Williams on Marshal Ney: Fall from Glory

The author of a biography of the ‘The Bravest of the Brave’ comments on his remarkable career and tragic downfall, his astronomic rise through the Revolutionary and Napoleonic armies up to Waterloo, his controversial execution and the enduring myths surrounding his legacy.

Brian Williams

Hello Brian, and welcome back to Aspects of History. A year on from its publication, Marshal Ney: Fall from Glory is your first book, but your fascination with the Napoleonic Wars goes back to childhood. What was it about Ney in particular that made you want to tell...

The Last Emperor of China: A Conversation with Paul French

The historian discusses Puyi and Wanrong, the last emperor and empress of China, exploring life inside the Forbidden City, newly uncovered diaries that shed light on their marriage and Puyi’s later years under Communist rule.

Paul French

Hello Paul. Congratulations on the release of The Last Emperor of China: Twilight of the Forbidden City. Why did the republican government allow Puyi to remain in the Forbidden City after his abdication? Was it a kind of insurance policy in case the new republic...

Stephen D. Owen on Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice

The author discusses his longstanding fascination with Roman Britain, the historical sources and archaeological evidence behind Boudica's Revolt, the challenges of bringing the Iceni and Romans to life through historical fiction.

Stephen D. Owen

Welcome to Aspects of History, Stephen. Did you have a personal interest in Roman history before writing Iceni: The Year of Sacrifice? I have had a passion for Roman history for many years. I first became interested in Roman Britain and the Iceni Revolt during...

The Country House at War – Judith S. Lewis Interviewed

The author discusses her book with Elizabeth Buchan and tells of a serendipitous discovery, wartime requisition, eviction, and the stories she uncovered in researching the experiences of the British upper classes during the Second World War.

Judith S. Lewis

Welcome to Aspects of History, Judith. You say that your book took shape from a serendipitous tourist moment. What was that? I visited Audley End in Essex. Beautiful house, palatial in size. Capability Brown gardens. There was an exhibit about the war years, when the...

AoH Book Club: Barney White-Spunner on Nations in Arms

In conversation with the Editor, the historian reflects on the lessons of his book a year on, from historical military reform and the relationship between armies and society to the impact of Ukraine on modern warfare, and his fascination with Constantine the Great.

Barney White-Spunner

Great to have you back in the Book Club hotseat, Barney. A year on from the publication of Nations in Arms, what first drew you to the idea of comparing these five armies, separated by such vast swathes of time, and what did you hope a comparative study would reveal...

Fiction Book of the Month: Karen Haden on Paying In Blood

The novelist talks about the real-life experiences behind her Alexander Baxby Mysteries, the resilience of ordinary people in early Stuart England, and the influence of espionage, religion and social upheaval on historical fiction.

Karen Haden

What attracted you to the time and place you write about? When working as a consultant for UK security agencies, I spotted similarities between the Elizabethan and early Stuart periods and our own time. Back then, the printing press was disrupting lives and creating...

Reds: A Global History of Communism – A Conversation with Paul Mason

The historian examines with Daria Santini the deep historical roots of communism, the push and pull between Utopian ideals and authoritarianism, and the continued relevance of past communist movements in an era of Chinese ascendancy and debate over alternatives to capitalism.

Paul Mason

Welcome, Paul, to Aspects of History. Why did you choose to begin Reds: A Global History of Communism in antiquity rather than with Marx, Engels, or the Russian revolution? What do we miss when we treat communism as a purely modern phenomenon? Because before it was a...

Mark Grenside

The thriller writer discusses his fascination with overlooked corners of history and the inspiration behind his Marcus Riley thriller and his forthcoming title, The Dolos Legacy.

Mark Grenside

What first attracted you to the period or periods you work in? It’s not periods per se. I like to uncover nuggets of history that I can build on and weave into a modern-day setting. I have an insatiable appetite for trivia and love peering into the dark underbelly of...