Gareth Russell is a historian and writer. Born in Belfast, he studied history at the University of Oxford and completed his postgraduate degree in medieval history at Queen's University Belfast. He is the author of several works of royal and social history, including a biography of Catherine Howard called Young and Damned and Fair and The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the end of the Edwardian Era, as well as two novels both of which were adapted for the stage. He has also reviewed for The Times, Daily Telegraph and Belfast Telegraph. He has contributed pieces for BBC Radio, BBC Northern Ireland and the History Channel. He lives in Belfast.