John Verney (1913-1993) was born in London and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. A newlywed at the outbreak of war in 1939, he joined the North Somerset Yeomanry and subsequently served in the Royal Armoured Corps and the fledgling Special Air Service. He fought in Syria, Egypt, Sardinia, and Italy, where he escaped a POW camp. Verney's books include Verney Abroad (1954), Going to the Wars (1955), Friday's Tunnel (1959), Look at Houses (1959), February's Road (1961), Every Advantage (1961), The Mad King of Chichiboo (1963), ismo (1964), A Dinner of Herbs (1961), Fine Day for a Picnic (1968), Seven Sunflowers Seeds (1968), and Samson's Hoard (1973).