Michael Hirst
Michael Hirst
certainly later occasional people recordings traded written
The Vikings certainly didn't write anything about themselves; it was not a literate, but rather a pagan, culture. So what we get was written later by Christian monks. But there were occasional reportings and recordings of people who had traded usually with the Vikings.
information
When I did 'The Tudors,' there was massive information available and a ready-made market.
people
With 'Vikings,' I had the task of making these people interesting and, to a point, sympathetic.
america appeal asked interest knowledge setting
I wasn't setting out to write a documentary; if I had, I would have done it in a completely different way. I was asked to write a drama that would appeal to a big audience in America that had no knowledge or interest in The Tudors at all.
bad
I'm very bad at delegating writing responsibilities, because I've never been able to do it; I've never had any help or looked for any help.
writing thinking comedy
I think comedy is the hardest actual form of writing there is.
idols lennon
I only have one idol: John Lennon.
character interesting perfect
It works better if your lead character is complex and interesting and not perfect.
love reading age
Once I engage in something, I really engage in it, and I love the process of reading and researching because I come from an academic background.
democratic exercising far felt popular social structures time
I felt that a lot of Viking culture had been caricatured and misconstrued. After all, they were far more democratic than the Saxons and the Francs, who were exercising really hierarchical social structures at that time. The Vikings had popular meetings where everything could be discussed.
anyone characters love sure towards
I couldn't give 'Vikings' away - I mean, I love these people. And I'm not sure anyone else writing it would necessarily have the same feeling towards the characters that I do.
historical liberating material rooted sort using
I've found that using historical material and being rooted in historical material is liberating because I always think to myself, 'Well, this actually happened, and this is fantastic!' That's why I don't like fantasy, in a way. Because it's sort of in emptiness.
bit characters goes hemingway historical honestly human knowledge material writers
The key for me with historical characters is they're interesting because they're human beings. A little bit of Hemingway goes a long way here, but journalists and writers should honestly look at their material and have a real interest, a real passion in what they want to write, and they should also have a lot of knowledge as well.
america pass
If you're in America or Europe, walk for three blocks, and you'll pass about 14 Vikings. Their reach was immense.