In the heart of Lambeth, London, as the year 1945 was drawing to a close, a child named Max Hugh Macdonald Hastings was born into a world still reeling from the ravages of the Second World War. His arrival on December 28th heralded the birth of one who would become a remarkable chronicler of wars and history.

Max's lineage was steeped in journalism and literature, with his father, Macdonald Hastings, a noted journalist, and his mother, Anne Scott-James, a respected editor of Harper's Bazaar. Young Max's journey through the realms of knowledge began at Charterhouse, followed by a stint at University College, Oxford.

But the traditional pathways of academia could not tether his restless spirit for long. He left Oxford after a year, his eyes set on broader horizons.

In 1967, Hastings crossed the Atlantic, immersing himself in the vibrant and tumultuous American society of the late 1960s. As a Fellow of the World Press Institute, he witnessed the fiery crucible of American politics and social change.

This experience culminated in his first book, "America, 1968: The Fire This Time", capturing the essence of a nation at a crossroads. .