#106: Simon Sebag Montefiore, historian and novelist

<p>Simon and Rachel speak with <a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/" target="_blank">Simon Sebag Montefiore</a>, a historian and novelist&nbsp;whose books have been published in 48 languages. His&nbsp;history books include "<a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/catherine-the-great-potemkin/" target="_blank">Catherine the Great and Potemkin</a>", which was&nbsp;shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson and&nbsp;Duff Cooper Prizes, "<a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/about/" target="_blank">Young Stalin</a>", which won the Costa Biography Award (UK)&nbsp;and "<a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/jerusalem/" target="_blank">Jerusalem: The Biography</a>" which won the&nbsp;Wen Jin Prize in China. His Moscow trilogy of novels comprises "<a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/sashenka/" target="_blank">Sashenka</a>", "<a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/red-sky-at-noon/" target="_blank">Red Sky at Noon</a>" and "<a href="http://www.simonsebagmontefiore.com/one-night-in-winter/" target="_blank">One Night in Winter</a>." We spoke with Sebag, as he likes to be known, about interviewing Margaret Thatcher as a schoolboy, his adventures in&nbsp;the Russian archives, and combining history and writing novels.</p> <p><strong>You can find us online at&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.alwaystakenotes.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">alwaystakenotes.com</a><strong>, on Twitter @takenotesalways, and on Facebook at&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/alwaystakenotes</a><strong>. Our crowdfunding page is&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">patreon.com/alwaystakenotes</a><strong>. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.</strong></p>