Gerald Kersh was born in Teddington-on-Thames, London and died penniless as an American citizen in Kingston, New York. He wrote over 1,000 articles, 400 short stories, and 19 novels. His account of infantry training They Die With Their Boots Clean (1941), became an instant best-seller during World War Two, and launched Kersh on a glittering career. Tax, health and personal problems in later life did not prevent Kersh from writing forgotten masterpieces like Prelude To A Certain Midnight (1947), Fowlers End (1957), The Implacable Hunter (1961) And The Angel And The Cuckoo (1966)