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John Leigh was born in Sheffield and went to Desborough School in Maidenhead. As an undergraduate, he read French and German at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. There he stayed as a doctoral student, completing a thesis on Voltaire's response to history in his fictional works. He became a University Lecturer and Fellow of his favourite College in 1995 where, ever since, he has been a Director of Studies. He is active as a researcher, lecturer and supervisor in eighteenth-century French literature and ideas. His publications include books on Voltaire and on the Enlightenment, as well as editions of Beaumarchais' plays and Voltaire's letters on England. He has never forsaken his love of German literature though. He has also spent many happy times in Italy confused by the dialects. He has even been seen in the company of Dr. Keown in the Balearics. Like him, he is an indispensable part of a pub quiz team, just as long as the questions are all on English parish churches, nineteenth-century operas or Sheffield Wednesday.