Stephanie Merritt was born in Surrey, England. She has worked as a critic and feature writer for various newspapers and magazines. Since 1998, she has been Deputy Literary Editor and staff writer at The Observer. She also writes in other genres. She is the creator of 'Giordano Bruno', a monk, poet, scientist and magician in Elizabethan times (under the pseudonym 'S.J. Parris'). Visit also this site.