Interview

‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? The collapse of the Soviet Union. I used to think it was a relatively peaceful event.’

‘Who is the most underrated person in history? Tupaia, the Tahitian navigator and translator who enabled James Cook to reach Australia and New Zealand’

‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? Orality. Historians search for ‘lost’ manuscripts which might never have existed.’

‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? I underestimated the role of women.’

‘Who is the most underrated person in history? Olaudah Equiano. His resilience in the face of adversity was phenomenal.’

‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That the history of war is the same as military history.’

‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That China has “5,000 years” of continuous history.’

‘What historical topic have I changed my mind on? The British in India, who I once looked upon as a benign force.’

‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That the republic was an absolute failure and the Restoration inevitable.’

‘What is the most common misconception about my field? That scholars who study elite white men are more objective.’