Born to a middle-class family in Belfast in 1921, Brian Moore left Ireland to work for the Allies in World War II. He was posted in Algiers, Naples and France and spent time in postwar Poland. He then moved to Canada, settling in Montreal for over a decade. Moore now divides his time between California and Nova Scotia.

Over the years, Moore has written in a number of genres and shown a remarkable ability to "disappear" into his characters. The author of over twenty novels, from The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne to his most recent book, The Magician's Wife, Moore has twice won the Governor General's Award, and has been nominated for the Booker Prize three times.

This insightful biography draws on interviews with Moore himself, as well as with friends, family, and colleagues. The author uses diverse sources for his portrait of this fascinating artist: archival notes, diaries, drafts, letters, and the novels themselves.