Neil Philip is a writer and folklorist with a particular interest in mythology and storytelling. After studying English at Oxford, he took his Ph.D at the University of London with a thesis on myth and folklore in children's literature. His first book was a critical study of the children's writer Alan Garner (A Fine Anger, 1981), and this has been followed by works of social history, scholarly studies of the folktale, poetry anthologies and original poetry. He is the author of numerous books for children, including the novel The Tale of Sir Gawain (1987), many collections of folk and fairy tales, such as The Complete Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault (1993) and Celtic Fairy Tales (1999), and a survey of fairy lore, The Little People (2002). While he was at school, his headmaster told his parents Neil is myth mad, and this 'madness' has manifested itself in a string of books on world mythology. His mythology titles include The Adventures of Odysseus (1996), Odin's Family: Myths of the Vikings (1996), Eyewitness Mythology (1999), Myths and Legends, and The Great Mystery: Myths of Native America (2001). Neil Philip has also published a great number of reviews, essays and articles, and written for stage, screen and radio. He is married and lives in the Cotswolds, England. The illustrator Nicki Palin has exhibited her artwork in Liverpool, Stratford and London. Her work has also been shortlisted for the Mother Goose Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal. Nicki lives with her partner, dogs, chickens and budgies in Norfolk. She once shared her home with a Bronze Age sacrificial victim who was discovered in the garden.