Monica Porter was born in Budapest, raised in New York, and has lived in the UK since the 1970s. She began her career in journalism as staff writer on a weekly magazine, turning freelance after starting a family. She has written for countless British newspapers and magazines and _At the World’s Most Famous Hotels_ is her eighth non-fiction book; she is also the author of two novels for children. She has two sons and four grandchildren, and is based in London. www.monicaporter.co.uk