Albert Jack is an English writer and historian who became something
of a publishing phenomenon in 2004 when his first book Red Herrings
and White Elephants, which explored the origins of well-known phrases
in the English language, became a huge international bestseller. The
book was serialised by the Sunday Times for over a year and stayed
in the top ten of the UK Sunday Times bestseller list for sixteen
months.
His follow up book Shaggy Dogs and Black Sheep was also a best seller
and has sold over 150,000 copies since publication in October 2005.
It became Penguin Book's Christmas bestseller. His hilarious third
book, a study of Urban Legends called Phantom Hitchhikers is also
a bestseller and was released in paperback in September 2007. In the
same month Red Herrings and White Elephants was re-released for the
first time in paperback and Albert has provided 30% more content for
a revised and expanded version that is sure to hit the best-seller
list once again.
Fascinated by discovering the truth behind the world's great stories,
Albert has become an expert in explaining the unexplained, which is
great news for conversations and storytellers everywhere. He is now
a veteran of hundreds of live television shows and thousands of radio
appearances worldwide. His books have become bestsellers in Great
Britain & Europe, America, Canada, South Africa, Australia and
translated into many different languages.
In 2007, Albert Jack's Loch Ness Monsters and Raining Frogs, a study
of the world's great mysteries from the Bermuda Triangle to the disappearance
of Glen Miller. Crop Circles, Loch Ness Monster, UFO's, Marylyn Monroe
and the Mary Celeste have also come under investigation along with
many more famous stories. Albert uncovers the sometimes surprising
truth and his acerbic wit makes for an entertaining read. Loch Ness
Monsters was be the third book Albert released in the autumn of 2007
and in March 2009 Random House published the same title in America.
In 2008 Penguin UK released the bestselling Pop Goes the Weasel, Albert's
book exploring the dark history and meaning of nursery rhymes that
became an instant best-seller and offered the writer new contract
to produce two brand new Albert Jack books for release in 2009 and
2010. The first of these, The Old Dog and Duck, Albert's fascinating
historic study of the origins of pub and hotel names is due in the
shops on September 3rd 2009, closely followed by Penguin USA issuing
stateside versions of Pop Goes the Weasel on 6th October and Shaggy
Dogs and Black Sheep in March 2010.
In September 2010 What Caesar did for my Salad, Albert's humorous
study of our favourite foods reveals who Caesar really was, why sausages
are bangers, what the Tartars had to with raw steak why the Thousand
Islands developed their seafood sauce and who Margarita was and why
she inspired the world's most famous pizza.
Finally, What Caesar Did for my Salad is due for release in America
in September 2011, The Old Dog and Duck is released as a paperback
in the UK during October 2011, Phantom Hitchhikers Part One and Two
are due for release in China in November 2011 and Random House are
publishing Albert's brand new UK title, It's a Wonderful Word, on
November 3rd 2011
The success of his books has a lot to do with Albert's invention of
what he calls the 'ten minute read,' enabling readers to open his
books at any point and be fully entertained for ten minutes at a time
before 'going off to do something more productive with their time.'
Currently hosting a series of Writer's Workshops in England Albert
has plans for another ten hard backs that look set to continue his
success for many years to come. Albert is also an accomplished lecturer
and after dinner speaker.