Robert Westall was born on October 7, 1929, in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England. He received a bachelor's degree in fine art from Durham University in 1953, after which time he served briefly (until 1955) as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Signals, a branch of the British Army. In 1957 he received a Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.)

from the Slade School, University of London, and married Jean Underhill one year later. After serving as an art teacher and guidance counselor at Sir John Deane's College in Northwich, Cheshire, for twenty-five years (19601985), Westall dedicated himself to the occupation of antiques dealer (albeit only briefly) and writer. Besides penning numerous works for young adults, he has also contributed articles of art criticism to the London Guardian and the Chester Chronicle.

Westall's first book, The MachineGunners, a realistic novel set in England during World War II, was awarded the British...