Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool in 1939, and grew up in Kirkdale, close to the docks. He left school at the age of fifteen and worked as a railway fireman, bus driver, postmaster and stand-up entertainer, before beginning his writing career with a residency at the renowned Everyman Theatre.

His first book for children, Redwall, was published in 1986. Twenty-one further books in the series were published to global acclaim, with millions of copies sold worldwide. In 2021 Netflix announced plans to release an animated film of Redwall that will introduce the series to a new generation of fans.

Brian died in Liverpool on 5 February 2011.