NICHOLAS PASHLEY, born in Sussex, England, is a career bookseller well known for his erudition and sardonic wit. He was the trade book buyer and purchasing manager for The University of Toronto Bookstore for 20 years and also the editor/writer of The U of T Bookstore Review. He has served as a director of the Canadian Booksellers Association and as a juror for the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Awards and the Journey Prize. For many years, he has also been a member of the Campaign for Real Ale. A long-time resident of Toronto and a connoisseur of pubs and publishing, Pashley now devotes his time to hosting literary events and writing his next book.