John Matthews has made a lifetime study of the legends of King Arthur, the Celtic traditions, and more recently, the history of pirates. He is the author of more than 100 books, including Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman, The Grail: Quest for Eternal Life, The Wildwood Tarot, the award-winning Arthur of Albion, and the New York Times bestseller Pirates. He has acted as an advisor on several big budget movies, including King Arthur, and is the recipient of several awards including a Benjamin Franklin Award, a NAPPA Gold Medal, and a BIB Golden Apple. He lives in Oxford, England.