Hunter Davies was born in Renfrew, Scotland, in 1936. He spent his early years in Carlisle, a historic city in North West England, before graduating from Durham University. A prolific author, journalist, and presenter, Hunter has penned over forty books, including biographies; novels; children's novels; and several volumes about Lakeland, the largest of Britain’s National Parks. As a journalist, Hunter contributes a regular column to the Sunday Times Money section, and a weekly football column for the New Statesman.