MARTYN DOWNER

The Author

Martyn DownerMartyn Downer was born in 1966 and educated at Stowe School and at Edinburgh University where he studied history. In 1993, after some years working in the antiques business in London, Martyn joined Sotheby's auctioneers where he subsequently became a director and head of the jewellery department.

He lives in rural Hertfordshire with his wife, who is a painter, and their three young children.

In 2003 Martyn left Sotheby's to pursue a career as a full time writer. Nelson's Purse is his first book. He is currently working on an account of life inside the Court of Queen Victoria.