Compton Mackenzie was born in West Hartlepool, England, into a theatrical family of Mackenzies, but many of whose members used Compton as their stage surname, starting with his grandfather Henry Compton, a well-known Shakespearean actor of the Victorian era. His father, Edward Compton, was an actor and theatre company manager; his sister, Fay Compton, starred in many of J. M. Barrie's plays, including Peter Pan. He was educated at St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated with a degree in modern history. He died in 1972. Roger Hutchinson is an award-winning author and journalist. After working as an editor in London, in 1977 he joined the 'West Highland Free Press' in Skye. Since then he has published thirteen books, including 'Polly: the True Story Behind Whisky Galore'. He is still attached to the 'WHFP' as editorialist and columnist, and has written for BBC Radio, 'The Scotsman', 'The Guardian', 'The Herald' and 'The Literary Review'. His book 'The Soap Man' (Birlinn 2003) was shortlisted for the Saltire Scottish Book of the Year (2004) and 'Calum's Road' (Birlinn 2008) is an international bestseller.