S.J. Hodge has an MA in the History of Art by Research from Birkbeck, University of London, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She has written over 60 illustrated non-fiction books, mainly on history and art-related subjects, including Why Your Five Year Old Could Not Have Done That: Modern Art Explained, 50 Art Ideas You Really Need to Know, Gustav Klimt, Medieval Europe, British Castles and The Forbidden City.