Intelligence Squared

An Evening with Dan Jones on War, Plague and Lion Hearts (Part Two)

Oct 19, 2025
Bestselling historian Dan Jones joins for a riveting discussion on the Hundred Years' War and his latest novel, Lionhearts. He dives into the harrowing impact of the Black Death and the emotional toll of rapid writing. Jones reveals his approach to blending fact and fiction, and shares why historical fiction can feel like a cheat. He also explores his characters' journeys, including Romford's impulsivity, while reflecting on the realities of historical accuracy versus creative license. Plus, a sneak peek at his upcoming book, The Castle!
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ADVICE

Let Characters Drive Historical Scenes

  • Let characters improvise within historical constraints to reveal drama organically.
  • Put them in a situation and trust their choices to pull historical facts into story.
INSIGHT

Writing Under Pressure Shapes Tone

  • Dan Jones deliberately wrote fast to keep emotional tension authentic in the trilogy's climax.
  • He warns that immersing oneself under stress to generate narrative energy can be personally damaging.
ANECDOTE

How Romford Was Discovered

  • Romford emerged unexpectedly when he broke into an apothecary to get high and surprised the author.
  • Jones modelled him as a 'fiend' archetype inspired partly by modern war films and found him deeply compelling.
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