保罗•约翰逊，英国著名历史学家。他是我们这个时代最著名的历史学者之一，入选美国《时代》杂志2000年一百大人物。他1928年出生于英国曼彻斯特，毕业于牛津大学莫德林学院。他曾任《新政治家》编辑，作为一名激进的左翼人士，在1969年巴黎学生运动时曾对学生采取赞同的态度。但后来在撒切尔夫人的影响下，他的思想右转，并成为支持英国政治保守主义的著名知识分子代表。他常年笔耕不辍，出版有数十本书籍，广泛涵盖人类学、当代史、艺术和建筑史、人物传记、回忆录和宗教题材，并且是《每日电讯报》、《纽约时报》、《华尔街周刊》、《福布斯》等著名媒体的的资深撰稿人。作为一个保守主义知识分子，他对现代主义抱持着怀疑态度，并对达尔文进化论被滥用导致的结果多有抨击。

A galaxy of legendary figures from the annals of Western history comes to life in this stirring sequel to Intellectuals and Creators . In this enlightening, entertaining work, Paul Johnson continues his engaging history series, approaching the subject of heroism with stirring examples of men and women from every age, walk of life and corner of the world who have inspired and transformed not only their own cultures but the whole world as well. Heroes includes Samson, Judith and Deborah

Alexander and julius Caesar

Henry V and Joan of Arc

Thomas More, Lady Jane Grey, Mary Queen of Scots

Elizabeth I and Walter Ralegh

George Washington, the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson

Emily Dickinson

Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee

Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle

Mae West and Marilyn Monroe

Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II