Christopher Hibbert (1924-2008) was born in Leicestershire and educated at Radley and Oriel Colleges, Oxford. He served as infantry officer during the war, was twice wounded and was awarded the Military Cross in 1945. Described by Professor J. H. Plumb as 'a writer of the highest ability', he was, in the words of the Times Educational Supplement, 'perhaps the most gifted popular historian' of his day. Christopher Hibbert was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Hon. D. Litt of Leicester University.