Paul Theroux was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1941, and published his first novel, Waldo , in 1967. He wrote his next three novels, Fong and the Indians , Girls at Play and Jungle Lovers , after a five-year stay in Africa. He subsequently taught at the University of Singapore, and during his three years there produced a collection of short stories, Sinning with Annie , and highly praised novel Saint Jack. His other publications include The Black House (1974), a novel; The Great Railway Bazaar- By Train Through Asia (1975), an account of his journey by train from London to Tokyo and back; The Family Arsenal (1976); The Consul's File (1977); Picture Palace (1978; winnner of the Whitread Literary Award); A Christmans Card (1978; The Old Patagonian Express (1979); World's End and Other Stories (1980); London Snow (1980); The Mosquito Coats , which was the Yorkshire Post Novel of the Year for 1981 and the joint winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize; The London Embassy (1982); The Kingdom by the Sea (1983); Doctor Slaughter (1985); Sunrise with Seamonsters (1985); The Imperial Way (1985); O-Zone (1986 ); Riding the Iron Rooster (1988); My Secret History (1989) and Chicago Loop (1990). Paul Theroux is married with two children and divides his time between London and Cape Cod.