Antony Beevor
Antony Beevor
Antony James Beevor, FRSLis an English military historian. He has published several popular histories on the Second World War and the 20th century in general...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionHistorian
Date of Birth14 December 1946
mother jobs writing
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.
book writing years
It takes me three or four years to research and write each book and the individual stories stay with you for a long time afterwards.
book reading writing
I just write the sort of book that I would enjoy reading myself, a book that is both scholarly and recreates the experience of people at that time.
wine writing past
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.
writing stopping i-can
I can't envisage stopping writing.
economic history lose pressures socially understanding
Without an understanding of history, we are politically, culturally and socially impoverished. If we sacrifice history to economic pressures or to budget cuts, we will lose a part of who we are.
boots good great historians military study themselves women
There are one or two very good women military historians who use imagination, great study and research; they can put themselves in the boots of the soldier.
historical memory misleading parallels point second war
The memory of the Second World War hangs over Europe, an inescapable and irresistible point of reference. Historical parallels are usually misleading and dangerous.
extremely four image months soldiers soviet state
One has this image of the Soviet state and the Red Army as being extremely disciplined but in the first four months of 1945 their soldiers were completely out of control.
army asked aware estonia professor quite war
I was in Estonia when a professor asked me if I was aware that making any criticism of the Red Army during the war was now an imprisonable offence. I was quite shaken.
across both cannot deplorable encourage except history inspiring perhaps profession seems
I have come across both inspiring teachers of history and deplorable ones over the years, so one cannot generalise, except perhaps to observe that the profession seems to encourage anti-militarist sentiments.
entertainment historical history knowledge lacks main source supposedly
Entertainment history is now the main source of supposedly historical knowledge for more and more people, but 'histo-tainment' is superficial and lacks all context.
across chapter file material relevant round skeleton work
I read round the subject, I make a skeleton outline, and then I start work in the relevant archives. During the marshaling of the material, I copy the material from each archive file across to the relevant chapter in the skeleton outline.
bit context experience overall realised
When I started to write, I realised that you need a bit of both: the overall context as well as the individual's experience.