Like an archaeologist, the historical novelist must remove the accretions of decades and centuries to reach her historical period. She then has to make herself at home there; create that past world in her mind so that it is as familiar to her as the present day.
When I started writing I already had the nucleus of a research library and what could be more useful to a book junkie than a new excuse to prowl book fairs, second-hand book shops and charity shops? My library is now so large that I have had to catalogue it and I add to it all the time. In the bookcase on the right, you see the section relating to contemporary memoirs, diaries and journals. In addition, there are bound magazines as well as books relating to pleasures and pastimes ranging from pugilism to music and dance. The bottom shelf is devoted to the Napoleonic Wars.
In this section of the Scrap Album I shall talk about some of my favourite books—both those I consult most frequently and the gems that gave me a particular insight or that special thrill of discovery that only collectors know.
When I started writing I already had the nucleus of a research library and what could be more useful to a book junkie than a new excuse to prowl book fairs, second-hand book shops and charity shops? My library is now so large that I have had to catalogue it and I add to it all the time. In the bookcase on the right, you see the section relating to contemporary memoirs, diaries and journals. In addition, there are bound magazines as well as books relating to pleasures and pastimes ranging from pugilism to music and dance. The bottom shelf is devoted to the Napoleonic Wars.
In this section of the Scrap Album I shall talk about some of my favourite books—both those I consult most frequently and the gems that gave me a particular insight or that special thrill of discovery that only collectors know.
