Harry Sidebottom was brought up in racing stables in Newmarket where his father was a trainer. Educated at various schools and universities, including Oxford, he took his Doctorate in Ancient History at Corpus Christi College. He has taught at various universities including Oxford, where he is now Fellow and Director of Studies in Ancient History at St Benets Hall, and Lecturer in Ancient History at Lincoln College. He has travelled widely, especially around the Mediterranean, including trips travelling as a guest speaker on a Cunard liner and a memorable solo journey into Albania not long after the fall of the dictator Enver Hoxha. All his life he has gone racing, and played and watched rugby and cricket. He was a founder member of Woodstock Rugby Football Club and has recently discovered the pleasures of real tennis.