Olivier Hein

A former diplomat with the UN, the OSCE and the UK, Olivier Hein has undertaken postings in Kosovo, Turkmenistan, the USA and France. Writing as Oli Hein, his first book, Punch a Hole in the Wind, explored the stories of 50 great Flat racehorses from around the world since the dawn of film; his second, Immortals, looks at 50 greats from the world of National Hunt racing. Writing as Olivier Hein, ‘Star and Key’ is his exploration of the exciting history of Mauritius since prehistory until the present day. He has also written ‘Borneo: The History of an Engima’, capturing the fascinating but little known story of that huge and mysterious island; and ‘Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan’, uncovering that nation’s little-known centrality to world history over the years. A regular contributor to The Chap magazine, Hein’s articles encompass a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on lesser-known characters from the past.