I was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in India, where I grew up and went to school, travelling widely in Europe on occasional extended visits. I left in 1968 at the age of 18 and after a year at University in Göttingen in Germany settled in London, where I have lived ever since.

I have a degree in Medieval History from the University of London. I have had a variety of jobs, which have included Bollywood movie extra, fork lift truck driver, and freelance accountant. My passions are history, writing and music.

Apart from my writing, I have composed classical music and regularly play jazz bass with like-minded friends.