Nicolai Lilin was born in 1981 and grew up in the small republic of Transnistria, which declared its independence in 1990 but has never been recognised. Nicolai left home to fight in the Russian army against the Chechens. He later lived in Ireland, before moving to Italy, where he continues to work as a tattooist. Siberian Education was a major bestseller in Lilin's home country of Italy and was published in the UK in May 2010 to critical acclaim. The author lives in Turin.