I started a version of my French historical novel... I found it utterly fascinating.

When I started as a writer, I knew nothing about publishing-nothing about anything!

I invented the historical spy novel.

I don't regard it as a historical novel, I regard it as a novel of now, which just happens to be set when it is set,

Temperee, riante, (comme le sont celles d'automne dans la tres gracieuse ville de Buenos Aires) resplendissait la matinee de ce 28 avril: dix heures venait de sonner aux horloges et, a cet instant, eveillee, gesticulant sous le soleil matinal, la Grande Capitale du Sud etait un epi d'hommes qui se disputaient a grands cris la possession du jour et de la terre.

Cultural concepts are one of the most fascinating things about historical fiction.