Simon Winchester is the bestselling author of Atlantic, The Man Who Loved China, A Crack in the Edge of the World, Krakatoa, The Map That Changed the World, The Surgeon of Crowthorne (The Professor and the Madman), The Fracture Zone, Outposts and Korea, among many other titles. In 2006 he was awarded the OBE. He lives in western Massachusetts and New York City.

‘Winchester achieves something remarkable here … ‘The Men Who United the States’ is not only readable, it’s compelling and quite marvellous reading’ Literary Review‘Winchester pioneered the genre of popular narrative history … His admiration for his adopted homeland, and respect for those who forged it, shine out from every page … [he] understands that specificity is what counts, as it always does in writing’ Sunday Telegraph‘Simon Winchester is a literary impresario … The subtitle promises readers a sackful of exciting tales – and the author delivers. This is a clever, engaging and original look at what would seem well-trodden historical paths; but Winchester, delightfully, breaks a fresh trail’ Economist‘A rousing tribute to the alliances, agencies, and inventions – from Lewis and Clark to the Internet – that underpin our more perfect union. A stunning, highly original feast of a book.’Stacy Schiff‘Simon Winchester never disappoints, and ‘The Men Who United the States’ is a lively and surprising account of how this sprawling piece of geography became a nation. This is America from the ground up. Inspiring and engaging.’Tom Brokaw