Paul Strathern

Paul Strathern (1940-) is a British writer and academic. He was born in London, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin. His novel "A Season in Abyssinia" won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1972. Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics. He is the author of two successful series of short introductory books: "Philosophers in 90 Minutes" and "The Big Idea: Scientists Who Changed the World". His book on the history of chemistry entitled "Mendeleyev's Dream" (2001) was short-listed for the Aventis Prize, and his works have been translated into over two dozen languages. He is the author of the best-selling 'The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance', and his most recent work 'Napoleon in Egypt' came out in May 2007.

Strathern was a lecturer at Kingston University where he taught philosophy and science. He lives in London, and has three grandchildren: Tristan, Julian and Opajoke.