Francesca Beauman grew up in London, studied History at Cambridge, and began her career as the host and writer of a number of television shows for BBC1, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

She is the author of seven books, including a history of the pineapple and a history of personal ads; she remains the world’s leading expert on both these subjects.

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Francesca now works at publishing company Persephone Books. She is also a regular chairperson at literary festivals and arts events and Vice-Chair of the Holburne Museum. She lives in Bath in Somerset.