Jasper Ridley was a former barrister turned author and became one of England's leading biographers. His later works included lives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. His book on Lord Palmerston won the James Tait Black prize. His last work, The Freemasons, was highly acclaimed.

"- 'Mr Ridley has written a meticulous, sane and lucid book.' (The Freemasons) The Economist Review Feb 2000 - 'Masterly, rich, comprehensive, and consistently fair, intelligent and readable.' (Lord Palmerston)- Michael Foot, Evening Standard, London - '...scholarly, lucid and judicious..."Definitive" is a foolish word to apply to history but it will be a long time before we read a biography of Louis Napoleon and Eugenie which better deserves the appellation.'(Napoleon III & Eugenie) - Philip Ziegler, The Times