Paul Torday was born in in Croxdale, County Durham, England on August 1, 1946. He received a degree in English literature from Pembroke College, Oxford. He spent years in the engineering business before turning to writing. His debut novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, was published in 2007. The novel was adapted into a 2011 film starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. His other works include The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce, The Girl on the Landing, and Light Shining in the Forest. He died on December 18, 2013 at the age of 67.