Michael White

Before writing full time, he worked in several very different worlds: he studied chemistry at King's College London, taught science at d'Overbroeck's College in Oxford, and was also part of the pop group the Thompson Twins. Publishers' biographies also describe him as a journalist and science editor, which helps explain the mix of storytelling and scientific curiosity in his books.

His writing career covered both nonfiction and fiction. He co-wrote Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science with John Gribbin, and later wrote books on figures including Isaac Newton, Galileo, and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as popular science titles. He also reached a wide audience with historical thrillers such as Equinox, The Medici Secret, The Borgia Ring, and The Art of Murder.

He was based in Perth, Western Australia, and became known as a prolific author whose work was translated widely. Michael White died in February 2018, but his books still stand out for making big ideas, hidden history, and scientific lives feel dramatic and accessible.