Described as 'a national treasure' by the Independent and as 'one of life's fact-finders' by the Scotsman, Philip Ardagh has written books on subjects ranging from archaeology to space flight, and has still found time to write the bestselling Eddie Dickens children's novels, now translated into over thirty languages, to review children's books for the Guardian ('on a regularly irregular basis') and to appear at events and festivals around the world. He won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2009. He is married with one son.