Roland Vernon

Roland Vernon is an English writer. He has published novels, biographies of musicians, and Star in the East, a biography of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. Roland Vernon was born on 1 February 1961 to an English mother and an Italian father (who has played no part in his life, but is a distinguished writer and businessman). He was fostered until the age of eight, after which he went to live with his mother in Vienna. His subsequent childhood homes were in Zambia and Greece, where his stepfather, Jeremy Peake (a Church of England clergyman), was posted. He went to Eton College, King's College, Cambridge (where he was a choral scholar), and the Royal College of Music. After graduating, with a degree in history of art, Roland Vernon trained as an opera singer and for a short while pursued a career as a professional singer. This was followed by two years as a manager at Nimbus Records. In 1991 he began writing professionally, meanwhile also starting his own marquee company. His first marriage to Irene Noel-Baker came to an end in 1988, and in 1991 he married Helen Damamme, with whom he has three sons. Since 1988 his home has been in Somerset.