I get slightly obsessive about working in archives because you don't know what you're going to find. In fact, you don't know what you're looking for until you find it. Antony Beevor More Quotes by Antony Beevor More Quotes From Antony Beevor To begin impatiently is the worst mistake a writer can make Antony Beevor worst mistake Few things reveal more about political leaders and their systems than the manner of their downfall. Antony Beevor downfall political leader I believe passionately in preemptive pessimism, especially before a book comes out. I expect the worst both from reviewers and sales, and then, with any luck, I may be proved wrong. Antony Beevor luck believe book If you smash a city when you're trying to capture it, you actually end up providing the perfect terrain for the defenders while blocking the access for your own armoured vehicles. Antony Beevor block cities perfect The great European dream was to diminish militant nationalism. We would all be happy Europeans together. But we are going to see the old monster of militant nationalism being awoken when people realise how little control their politicians have. Antony Beevor together dream people I feel slightly uneasy at the way historians are consulted as if history is going to repeat itself. It never does. Antony Beevor historian doe way I can't envisage stopping writing. Antony Beevor stopping i-can writing The vital thing for me is to integrate the history from above with the history from below because only in that way can you show the true consequences of the decisions of Hitler or Stalin or whomever on the ordinary civilians caught up in the battle. Antony Beevor battle decision ordinary I think it's outrageous if a historian has a 'leading thought' because it means they will select their material according to their thesis Antony Beevor select mean thinking I just love the days when you come out of the archives with half a dozen excellent descriptions or poignant accounts of personal experiences. Antony Beevor archives dozen half The blurring of fact and fiction has great commercial potential, which is bound to be corrupting in historical terms. Antony Beevor historical facts fiction The great help of being in the Army is to understand why are the armies clever in what they describe as emotional intelligence, making soldiers come to terms with the death of comrades by certain rituals. Antony Beevor army emotional clever I joined the Army in 1965 and served with the 11th Hussars, which I loved. The regiment was so relaxed - a salute was more like a friendly wave. Antony Beevor wave army friendly When I was younger I used to get my best writing done at night, but now it has to be during the day. I usually finish work at half past seven, then go back to the house to open a bottle of wine, have dinner, and then read or watch television. Antony Beevor wine writing night When my first novel was published, I went in great excitement round bookshops in central London to see if they had stocked it. Antony Beevor excitement london firsts I am not someone who believes I am going to find a historical scoop. Antony Beevor historical believe It was only after five years in the army, when I was having to do a very boring job in a very boring place, that I thought: 'Why not try writing a novel?' partly out of youthful arrogance and partly because there had been a long line of writers in my mother's family. Antony Beevor mother writing jobs When I was a child I had something called Perthes' Disease which meant I was on crutches, so I was bullied at school and all that sort of stuff. Antony Beevor disease children school I think one of the great disasters (in military history) is the way that the Second World War has become the defining reference point for every crisis and every conflict. Antony Beevor military war thinking The British bombing of Caen beginning on D-Day in particular was stupid, counter-productive and above all very close to a war crime. Antony Beevor d-day stupid war
