Timon Screech was born in Birmingham and now lives between London and Tokyo with his partner and cats. He studied Japanese at Oxford University, then took a PhD in the history of art at Harvard University, focussing on the early modern period. He is the author of some dozen books on the art and culture of Japan's Edo Period (1603-1868), written in both English and Japanese. He is also a Freeman of the City of London, a member of Pangbourne Workingmen's Club, and a Fellow of the British Academy.