Bear Grylls was brought up on the Isle of Wight, where he learned to climb with his father. He spent three years in the British Army & is a martial arts expert. He is currently attempting to be the first person to jet-ski around the entire landmass of Great Britain.
Debra N. Mancoff is the author of "David Roberts: Travels in Egypt & the Holy Land" (Pomegranate, 1999); "Burne-Jones" (Pomegranate, 1998); "The Return of King Arthur: The Legend Through Victorian Eyes" (Harry N. Abrams, 1995) & many other publications. She attended the University of Illinois & Northwestern University (where she received her Ph.D.). She currently is a scholar-in-residence at the Newberry Library in Chicago.