David Kynaston author of Modernity Britain answers our questions

How does it feel to reach the longlist for the Samuel Johnson Prize?

Confined joy – last two books made the longlist, neither the shortlist.

What research did you do for writing your book?

Books, newspapers, magazines, letters, diaries, archives generally – the usual stuff.

How do you feel about the status/ popularity of non-fiction books in general?

My broad feeling is that a great novel is greater than a great work of non-fiction, but that the average work of non-fiction has more to offer than the average novel.

What is your favourite non-fiction book and why?

Performing Artist by Paul Williams – a humane, insightful, non-reverential study of Bob Dylan.

What are you working on next?

The next instalment of my post-war history.

David Kynaston is the author of Modernity Britain: Opening the Box (Bloomsbury)