簡•莫裏斯（Jan Morris），集詩人、小說傢、旅遊文學作傢於一身，一九二六年齣生於英國威爾士。曾擔任《泰晤士報》與《衛報》記者，後專事寫作。皇傢文學學會的會員，並獲頒大英帝國勛章（OBE），也是韋爾斯大學榮譽文學博士。

著作超過三十部，包括小說、曆史與旅行文學作品。除瞭有關大英帝國的名作《大不列顛治下的和平》（Pax Britannica）三部麯外，還有關於牛津、曼哈頓、悉尼、威尼斯，香港、西班牙和韋爾斯的記述，二本自傳式著作、六冊旅遊散文集；小說《哈弗的最後來信》（Last letters from Hav）曾入選英國布剋文學奬。莫裏斯被《泰晤士報》評選為二戰後英國最偉大的十五名作傢之一。

With her travel chronicles unparalleled in twentieth-century literature, Jan Morris s legendary books on Venice, Manhattan, and Trieste have made her one of our most beloved writers. Now reflecting back on over half a century, Morris has decided to write not about the destinations but about the people she has encountered. Whether writing as James or later as Jan, Morris introduces us to a panoply of memorable characters the Sherpa guide who first scaled Mt. Everest, the lascivious Manhattan cabbie, and the proverbial spy in the raincoat. She provides insightful portraits of the famous, such as Harry Truman and Jordan s King Hussein, and glimpses of the infamous, including Adolf Eichmann. Recalling human encounters on six continents, she paints a vibrant, funny, and moving picture of humanity. Ultimately, no figure comes into clearer focus than Morris herself, an astonishing chronicler of the human spectacle. Contact! is one book you ll want to carry with you wherever you go.