Sapper was the pen name of Herman Cyril McNeile, chosen because he served for some years with the Royal Engineers, who are popularly known as 'sappers'. His most famous character - the formidable Bulldog Drummond - inspired a hugely popular series and several films, making Sapper one of the most popular novelists of his generation.
Robert Giddings is a literary critic and broadcaster who regularly writes for publications including the Tribune and the Dickensian. He is the author of A Student's Guide to Charles Dickens, and co-author with Keith Selby of The Classic Serial on Television and Radio.