Meyer was born in London into a timber merchant family of Jewish origin. He is best known for his translations of the works of two Scandinavian playwrights, Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg. Braham Murray wrote of Meyer in his obituary published by The Guardian that Meyer was "the greatest translator of Ibsen and Strindberg into English there has ever been" even superior to William Archer.

"Packed, tense, informative...undeniably engrossing" Michael Billington, Guardian (on Lunatic and Lover) "A rewarding experience; well acted, continuously absorbing" John Gross, Sunday Telegraph (on A Meeting in Rome)