MICHAEL BRANDER was born in Edinburgh and educated in London and Cambridge. He served with the 10th Royal Hussars in North Africa and Italy, was wounded in 1944 and invalided, greeting VE day on his 21st birthday minus quadriceps. By riding he learned to walk again, returned to Cambridge and completed an MA in history, read for the bar (Middle Temple), worked briefly in the City of London before setting up his own company and stud farm in 1951, making and schooling horses. In 1955 he wrote his first book -- on dog training -- and turned to full-time writing. His works include biography, military and social history, fiction, travel and guide books.