Giuliano da Empoli is an Italian and Swiss writer and political scientist living in France. He was once a senior advisor to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. His debut novel, The Wizard of the Kremlin, has sold more than half a million copies in France, where it also won the Grand Prix du Roman and was a finalist for the Goncourt Prize. It has since gone on to become an international bestseller, being translated into thirty-five languages across the world.

Sam Taylor is a British prizewinning translator, author and former journalist. His translations include HHhH and Civilisations by Laurent Binet, Beyond the Door of No Return by David Diop, The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker and The Mystery of Henri Pick by David Foenkinos. He lives in Texarkana, Texas in the USA.