John Keay is the former editor of the Royal Geographical Society's History of World Exploration but is best known today as a travel writer with special knowledge of South Asia. His most recent book A History of India was published in March this year, and he has written many more titles including Explorers of the Western Himalayas, 1820-1895 (1996), The Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland (1999 & 2000 editions)and The Great Arc (2000). When not travelling he lives in Argyll, Scotland.