What books are on your night stand?
I’m working my way through a delicious pile of historical nonfiction titles: “Shakespeare’s Book,” by Chris Laoutaris; “All That She Carried,” by Tiya Miles; and “Secret Voices,” a wonderful collection of excerpts from women’s diaries, edited by Sarah Gristwood. The passages are arranged by date, and I read that day’s entries each night. It’s fascinating to read about someone’s day centuries ago.
Describe your ideal reading experience.
In the morning, in Duke Humfrey’s Library in Oxford, with a 16th-century manuscript in front of me, deciphering each word.
What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?
I’ve not read a single word of Jane Austen. By admitting that, I fear I will be drummed out of the Novelists’ Corps.
Do you count any books as guilty pleasures?
Books are never guilty pleasures. You should never, ever feel guilty about reading something — not even the cereal box.
How did your reading life change as you were recovering from cancer?
I couldn’t escape into fictional worlds as I’d hoped, but was surprisingly drawn to biographies and diaries, which I found inspiring and comforting, especially World War II diaries. If people survived the Blitz in London, surely I could survive cancer.
Did illness have an influence on the story you wanted to tell in the new book?
Absolutely. Ironically, I’ve been writing for years about fictional characters with genetic mutations. Once doctors diagnosed me as having the BRCA gene mutation and the ovarian cancer that in my case goes with it, I wanted to dive back into family history in “The Black Bird Oracle.”
Were there thematic threads in the “All Souls” series you wanted to pick up?
In addition to those mentioned above, I wanted to return to magic and tidy up some of the loose ends and fill some of the plot holes I’d left in the previous books. After the challenges of the pandemic, I thought it might be good to pay more attention to how people cope with the difficulties that confront them, too, and not just focus on the bright side.
You’re a professor of history at U.S.C. What’s your favorite academic novel?
A.S. Byatt’s “Possession” is the greatest single influence on my fiction, with its academic protagonist, historical elements, missing texts and love of scholarship.
What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a gift?
The illustrated hardcover copy of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.” It was a gift from my grandmother, and I still give it pride of place on my bookshelves.
What’s the best book that a student turned you onto?
I can’t bring one to mind. But as an undergraduate, my honors thesis advisers suggested I read “The Game of Kings,” by Dorothy Dunnett. They waited until after I’d filed for my degree and it’s a good thing, because I devoured the entire series in the space of weeks. Like “Possession,” Dunnett’s series casts a long shadow on the “All Souls” books.
The Bodleian and the Beinecke play significant roles in your work. Is there a library on your bucket list to visit?
The library at Hatfield House. The Marquess of Salisbury has an amazing collection of documents, including the papers of William and Robert Cecil, two eminent English statesmen. They also have estate records back to the 16th century, including account books, floor plans and inventories.
Is there such a thing as too much research for a novel?
No. It is possible to share too much of that research with your reader, however, and totally overwhelm the story.
What do you make of “romantasy”?
I understand this is a thing, but I’m not really a huge fan of genre distinctions. In my academic brain there are two basic categories: fiction and nonfiction. The rest, to paraphrase Queen Elizabeth I, is a mere dispute over trifles. Are my books “romantasy”? I don’t think so, but readers might. I think I write fiction, full stop.
What book would you like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t been adapted?
I cannot fathom why the aforementioned “Game of Kings,” a sprawling, sexy, action-packed historical epic, hasn’t been adapted for the screen. If anyone reading this wants to produce it, please call me to write the screenplay.
You’re organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?
My ninth great-grandmother Anne Bradstreet would be on my list. Then I’d ask Taylor Swift. Yes, she is a writer, for those rolling their eyes. Like Bradstreet, Swift is a poet, and a remarkably successful and prolific one at that. I would love to know more about her creative process. Louisa May Alcott would be third. She suffered from chronic illness and her private life remains shrouded in secrets. Just imagine the conversation about women, creativity and legacy that would ensue.
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