Born in Manchester in 1930, John Pemberton wrote his first poem before undertaking a grammar-school education that included inspirational teaching in poetry. He pursued literary and linguistic studies at Manchester University which led to a career in librarianship, a Masters Degree from Warwick University, and an Honorary Doctorate.

Alongside much published work relating to his profession has run the continuous thread of poetry on which subject he published 'How to be a Poet' in 2007, and his writing now culminates in this substantial collection of truly original epigrams.