Publication will be backed with a national advertising campaign, publicity across press and radio, regular features by Ben Schott in The Times leading up to Christmas, author events and signings In an age when information is plentiful but selection is rare, Schott's Almanac offers both the essential facts and the lucid analysis, combining the authority and accuracy of the Economist with the wit and vitality of Have I Got News for You The perfect book to collect, present and enjoy at Christmas

'A social barometer of genuine historical value.' The Times 'A record of historic reference, chronicling the past year's important events... punctuated with unpredictably diverting statistics.' Guardian 'Schott hits the spot.' Evening Standard 'The ultimate book of lists, brilliantly, if eccentrically, presented and edited. Never has trivia been more entertaining.' Daily Mirror

Ben Schott was born in North London in 1974. He was educated at University College School. Hampstead, and Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, where he read Social and Political Sciences. He has worked with the Independent, The Times, the Sunday Times, Reader's Digest and Sunday Business, amongst many others and has photographed celebrities from Hugh Grant to Tony Blair and Enoch Powell. Now a full-time writer, he has had columns with a number of publications including Conde Nast Traveller and the Daily Telegraph, and is now a regular contributor to the New York Times and The Times of London. He lives in London.