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Any period is fascinating: the more ancient, the better.

But no, I don't think I'm particularly drawn to the period roles or the medieval roles.

If good history is dispassionate history, it must naturally wait until the passions of the period subside.

Health, money. That's what people worried about in the 14th century as much as today. I find it so much more interesting than the supposed activities of kings, queens, generals.

With the World War II era, there's so much written material to draw on. When you go back to the 14th century, you have to imagine more.

I see history as really cyclical in terms of the intense idealism, and the desire to create a better life outside of societal norms.

I think any period in history can be adapted into interesting fiction, as long as you approach the actual history with respect.

A period of time is as much an organising principle for a work of fiction as a sense of place. You can do geography, as Faulkner did, or you can dwell on a particular period. It provides the same framework.

I am a lazy, cynical, middle-aged guy who has long since come to the conclusion that most historical periods really sucked, for most people, most of the time.

So history is fertile territory for me and I think I could feel happy with any period of history, provided I had the right sources and the necessary time for the initial research.