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In addition to the research, I enjoyed learning French and assimilating the culture of another country.

One of the greatest joys in my life was giving a lecture in French at the College de France.

The concentration in my book on Marie Antoinette's childhood and on her family influences. It is surprising how some books actually start with her arrival in France!

The most important thing Paris gave me was a perspective on Latin America. It taught me the differences between Latin America and Europe and among the Latin American countries themselves through the Latins I met there.

I learned French in Tunis, along with Arabic. I also learned French history. I knew the entire history of the kings of France. And I was fascinated by Versailles.

For years, the place I really lived - the world I watched, the one I thought and wrote about - was 15th-century France.

I myself owe everything to French books. They developed in my soul the sentiments of humanity which had been stifled by eight years of fanatical and servile education.

I learned my French through school. I was lucky in that the tutor on 'The Wonder Years' set spoke fluent French.

I discovered Deborah Ellis's books in the school library after my head teacher encouraged me to go beyond the school curriculum and look for books I might enjoy.

In France, I learned about wine and cheese.