A specialist in Russian history and 19th century women's history, Helen Rappport is not only a fluent Russian speaker and respected translator, but also the author of a number of well received titles - the most recent of which "Beautiful for Ever: Madame Rachel of Bond Street Cosmetician, Con-Artist and Blackmailer" is something a little different for her.

A passionate Victorianist and Russianist, she is a member of the Victorian Society, the Society of Genealogists, the Society of Authors, The Biographers’ Club and Writers in Oxford as well as also being an academic associate of St Bede’s Hall, Oxford.

We recently had the opportunity to find out a little more about Harry Sidebottom, the man behind the Warrior of Rome series of novels, ahead of the publication of the third novel in the series, Lion of the Sun on 22nd July 2010.

A Fellow of St Benet's Hall and lecturer at Lincoln College, Oxford, Harry specialises in Ancient warfare and classical art. He has an international reputation as a scholar, having published widely on Ancient warfare, classical art and the cultural history of the Roman Empire. Originally from Newmarket, Suffolk, Harry is also a presenter on ‘Ancient Discoveries’ for The History Channel and now lives with his wife and two sons in Cambridgeshire.