Michael Ridpath

I was born in Devon in 1961, but grew up in Yorkshire. I was educated at Millfield School in Somerset, and Merton College, Oxford, where I read History. After University, I joined Saudi International Bank, a part-Saudi, part-American owned bank based in London. I started off my career as a credit analyst, but then became a bond trader, managing one of the largest junk bond portfolios in Europe. In 1991 I left bond trading to join Apax Partners, a venture capital firm. My first novel, Free to Trade, was written during evenings and weekends over a four year period. When it was accepted for publication with a large advance, I gave up working in the City to become a full-time writer.