Alan Bardos

Alan, your novel Rising Tide is set during World War II, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, whereas your earlier series focused on World War I. What inspired you to explore a new conflict in your writing? In my previous First World War series I looked at how waging a quick decisive war was seen as an effective foreign policy for nations to settle disputes and assert themselves.

In a surreal, chilling moment, the Chilean national football team played alone in Santiago’s Estadio Nacional after the Soviet Union refused to compete in a stadium that the Pinochet regime had turned into a site of imprisonment, torture and death.

On the face of it, it’s rather simple. Britain at War is a tribute to this nation’s – and the Commonwealth’s – fighting past. Yet it is more complicated than that, as I’m not interested in triumphalism or glorification. Yes, we do love the Boy’s-own stuff, and there are incredible stories of gallantry to celebrate, and now and again we enjoy a little humour and relish in the odd ‘what if?’ or something quirky.