George Courtauld read Philosophy at Cambridge. The son of the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Essex, and has worked as a headhunter for numerous years. His gift for making history accessible was discovered when he compiled a list of historical events for his sons to hang in the bathroom. It turned into the bestseller The Pocket Book of Patriotism (now available in illustrated format from Ebury), followed by The Pocket Book of Patriots, also published by Ebury. Courtauld is married with three sons and lives in Colne Engaine, near Colchester, Essex.