Writer of academic chemistry texts, but with one work of general interest nonfiction.

The Penguin Lessons tells the story of a penguin I rescued from an oil spill in Uruguay and named Juan Salvador. The penguin appeared to make the decision to return to Argentina with me and lived in the boarding school where I worked. The story tells of the remarkable effect the bird had on both staff and students in a time of a dark and desperate time of fascist military dictatorship in that country.

The book has been translated into 24 languages and had an audio book edition read by Bill Nighy. It has also been made into a film, of the same name, starring Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce. 

The most extraordinary accolade that the book has received is the incorporation of the story into the National Curriculum of S Korea for their 14 – 16 year olds. That a country of 50 million, with undoubtedly  a very high educational standard, should choose my book for this purpose is, I consider, the highest possible honour.