Nicolas Freelin was born in London in 1927 and spent his childhood in France.Before taking up writing he worked for many years in hotels and restraurants, and from their back doors got to know a good deal of Europe. When LOVE IN AMSTERDAM, his first novel,was published in 1962 he stopped cooking other people's dinners and went back to Holland. His second and third novel,BECAUSE OF THE CATS and GUN BEFORE BUTTER were published in 1963. They have all been published in Penguins, as well as VALPARAISO, THE DRESDEN GREEN, THE KING OF THE RAINY COUNTRY, CRIMINAL CONVERSATION, TSING BOUM and STRIKE OUT WHERE NOT APPLICABLE. His latest books are THE COOK BOOK and A LONG SILENCE.