Jem Lester was a journalist for nine years and saw the Berlin Wall fall in 1989—and though there, he denies personal responsibility. He was also the last journalist to interview the legendary Fred Zinnemann, before the director died. He denies responsibility for that too. He taught English and media studies at secondary schools for nine years. Lester has two children, one of whom is profoundly autistic, and for them he accepts total responsibility. He lives in London with his partner and her two children. Lester’s first novel, Shtum, won the 2013 PFD/City University Prize for Fiction.