Nicholas Luard (1937–2004) was a novelist, travel writer, politician and conservationist whose early years spent in Tehran and Kenya influenced much of his work as a writer.  A first-class English degree from Cambridge and a friendship with Peter Cook led to a prominent role in the satire movement of the 1960s and ownership of Private Eye.

As an athlete, Luard boxed for the Army — described as “a tough little sod, and stroppy with it” — during National Service in the Coldstream Guards. In 1956, he was given unpaid army leave to join a secret operation assisting Hungarian refugees escaping into Austria, experience that led to the publication of his first thriller, The Warm and Golden War.

In 1970, Luard moved with his wife, cookery-writer Elisabeth Luard, and their young family to southern Spain, where he found inspiration for another five thrillers and a travel-book, Andalucia. His non-fiction includes The Last Wilderness, a journey across the Kalahari desert, and The Field of the Star, a pilgrimage to Santiago. Adventure novels include Gondar, Himalaya and Silverback.

Luard ran for Parliament as an Independent. As a conversationist, he co-founded, with Olympic gold-medallist Chris Brasher, the John Muir Trust and set up the first London Marathon.