Alistair MacLean was a 20th century Scottish novelist. He is best remembered for his thrillers and adventure stories, most notably ‘The Guns of Navarone’ and ‘Ice Station Zebra.’ He is one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time, and his books have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. The son of a church minister, MacLean grew up to be a curious and creative young man. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Royal Navy and served in World War II. Following his departure from the military in 1946, he enrolled at the University of Glasgow where he studied English. During this time, MacLean did a number of odd jobs, including those of a hospital porter and a street sweeper. He eventually took up writing. From 1955 until his death in 1987, he wrote numerous books and also pursued a career as a screenwriter. On a personal note, he married twice and had three children.
