Ian Crofton has compiled many works of reference, books of quotations and miscellanies over the years, including A Dictionary of Musical Quotations (with Donald Fraser), A Dictionary of Art Quotations, The Guinness Encyclopedia (as editor-in-chief), Brewer's Dictionary of Curious Titles, and, with John Ayto, Brewer's Britain and Ireland and the second edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase and Fable. He lives in North London with his family and three whippets.