Biographical note

Robin May was born in 1929. An actor for many years. he became a writer and journalist specialising in theatre and opera, and also the American west. His collaboration with Gerry Embleton in the 1970s produced two of the most successful books in the Men-at-Arms series – British Army in North America 1775–83 and Men-At-Arms 48: Wolfe's Army. A prolific writer for the rest of his career, Robin May died in 1996. Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects over more than 20 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes in particular. He lives in Switzerland, where since 1988 he has also become well known for designing and creating life-size historical figures for museums.