Gavin Weightman is the author of a series of colourful history books including The Frozen Water Trade, Signor Marconi's Magic Box, The Industrial Revolutionaries, and Children of Light: How Electricity Changed Britain Forever. After taking a degree in sociology at London University Gavin joined the staff of New Society in the mid-1970s as a feature writer. In 1978 he was recruited by London Weekend Television to produce and direct documentaries. These included two six-part history series entitled The Making of Modern London, as well as City Safari, Brave New Wilderness, London River and Bright Lights, Big City. For two years he was the presenter of The London Programme on LWT. He has published more than twenty books and written for numerous publications including History Today, the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the Independent. In 2012 the Royal Literary Fund appointed him as a Fellow at Queen Mary College, University of London. He lives in Stoke Newington, North London with illustrator Clare Beaton. You can find him at: www.gavin-weightman.co.uk