John Rae

Born in Scotland in 1845, he built a long career in journalism and public writing. He worked in Britain and later in Canada, where he became known as a thoughtful commentator as well as a careful literary biographer.

He is especially associated with Life of Adam Smith (1895), a major biography of the economist that helped shape later understanding of Smith’s life and work. He also wrote on contemporary political and economic questions, combining a reporter’s eye for detail with an interest in big ideas.

For audiobook listeners, his appeal lies in that mix of clarity and curiosity: his writing opens a window onto both the people he studied and the public debates of his time.