Sarah Bakewell had a wandering childhood in Europe, Australia and England. After studying at the University of Essex, she wrote fiction and worked in bookshops before becoming Curator of early printed books at the Wellcome Institute Library for the History of Medicine in London. She curated an exhibition with Marina Warner for the Science Museum and catalogues rare book collections for the National Trust. She is the author of The Smart and The English Dane: From King of Iceland to Tasmanian Convict. Her previous books are biographies of the courtesan and swindler Margaret Caroline Rudd (The Smart), and the explorer, revolutionary and spy Jorgen Jorgenson (The English Dane). She lives in Italy and London. www.sarahbakewell.com