About the Authors

George Osborne had never written a book before A Bit of a Life and was seemingly inspired by an author and fellow sailor Douglas Reeman who he connected with in 1980. Reeman wrote a total of 68 novels, ultimately selling 34 million copies. In writing this book, over a two-year period, from 1982, George recalled, researched, and wrote by hand, his account of his period of service which extended from mid-teens in April 1932 until his 30th birthday in August 1946. Looking back over almost half a century it is surprising how much of those early days he was able to recall. His son Dave Osborne has contributed the final chapter and the preface which extends the story from his father’s demobilisation until his death in 1997.