Alessandro Gallenzi was born in Genzano (Rome), but he has been living and working in London for twenty years. He is the founder of Hesperus Press, Alma Books and Alma Classics, and the successor of John Calder at the helm of Calder Publications. As well as being a literary publisher with over fifteen years of experience, he is a prize-winning translator, poet, playwright, and novelist. His collection of poems, Modern Bestiary – Ars Poetastrica, was published in 2005 to critical acclaim. His satirical literary novel, Bestseller, was published in 2010, followed by InterRail in 2012, and The Tower in 2014. His verse translation of Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock won the Premio Biblioteca di Monselice special award in 2010. His articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including The Times, The Scotsman and The London Magazine. He lives in Richmond with his wife and two children. His most recent book is Il figlio perduto (2018).