Hammond Innes

Hammond Innes was born in Sussex in 1913. He authored thirty international bestsellers. He also wrote an authoritative history of the Conquistadors (Spanish conquerors), two books about his travels around the world on his sailing yacht, and an illustrated book about Eastern England. In the early 1950s, with books like "The Lonely Skier," "Campbell's Kingdom," "The White South," and "The Wreck of the Mary Deare," all of which were adapted into films, he gained international fame. Innes conducted in-depth research for the material he used in his adventures. If he wrote about underwater oil rigs, he spent considerable time on them. If he wrote about Antarctica, he stayed for a certain period at the frozen South Pole. Thus, he led a rather adventurous life. The author and his wife, Dorothy, were brave sailors who dared to cover much greater distances than most yachtsmen. For the writing of "Mary Deare," they participated in sailing races and explored the coasts of Europe together, from Norway to Turkey. He passed away in 1998.