In the aftermath of the Great War when the world was still trying to bury its wounds, one story captivated Europe and America - the battle between four young women to be the first to conquer the formidable waters of the English Channel.
Gavin Mortimer was born in London 34 years ago. As a freelance journalist he has contributed articles to a diverse range of magazines and newspapers, including the Observer, the Guardian, History Monthly and Esquire. The Longest Night is his fourth book and the second to be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. The first, Stirling's Men: the Inside History of the SAS in World War II, was published in 2004 and is now available in paperback.