Mark Derby is a New Zealand writer and historian whose work has also been published in Britain, Spain and the US. His previous publications include Ragnar Redbeard: The Antipodean Origins of Radical Fabulist Arthur Desmond (Steele Roberts, 2017), Petals and Bullets: Dorothy Morris: New Zealand Nurse in the Spanish Civil War (Sussex Academic Press/Potton & Burton, 2015), White-collar Radical: Dan Long and the Rise of the White-collar Unions (Craig Potton Publishing, 2013), The Prophet and the Policeman: The Story of Rua Kenana and John Cullen (Craig Potton Publishing, 2009), Kiwi Compañeros: New Zealand and the Spanish Civil War (Canterbury University Press, 2009; Spanish-language edition published 2011 in association with the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). He has been jailed but never imprisoned, and lives on Wellington’s south coast with three generations of his family.
‘Derby’s scholarship is excellent, informed by access to private and public archives, as well as extensive interviews, sources and bibliography. These leave no doubt about Jolly’s place among New Zealand’s most distinguished expatriates.’ — Nevil Gibson, New Zealand Listener ‘This long overdue portrait will fascinate anyone interested in emergency medical care, the Spanish Civil War or WWII military history.’ — Jenny Nicholls, Waiheke Weekender ‘Superbly researched and compellingly readable.’ — Professor Emeritus Sir Paul Preston ‘Very readable, extensively researched’ — Neil Pollock, Health & History ‘This lively, informed and well written account reveals Jolly’s influence well beyond his native shores’ — Roderic Alley, New Zealand International Review