About...

Simon Tolkien was born in England in 1959 and grew up in a small village outside Oxford. His grandfather was J.R.R. Tolkien, professor of philology and the author of The Lord of the Rings. Simon was educated by Benedictine monks at Downside School, and then went on to Oxford University, where he studied Modern History at Trinity College. Since 1994, he has been a successful barrister in London, specializing in criminal justice, where, according to British custom, he regularly appears on behalf of both the prosecution and the defense. His wife, Tracy, is an American who owns a vintage clothing store in Kings Road, Chelsea. They have two children and live in London.

Simon’s first novel, titled Final Witness in American publication, was published by Random House in 2002 and has been translated into eight languages. Although he has always admired his grandfather’s books, Simon’s own writing draws more heavily from his experiences as a trial lawyer and his abiding interest in the legal and social politics of 20th century British society.