Kyril Bonfiglioli (1929-1985) was an art dealer in Oxford, UK, who was for a short time also an editor. He later became a writer. After his divorce he lived in Lancashire, Jersey and Ireland. He died in Jersey in 1985.

He edited Science Fantasy magazine for a period from 1964 to 1966, appointed by David Warburton of Roberts and Vinter Ltd.; and the successor Impulse for its first few issues in 1966 before handing the reins to Harry Harrison.

He wrote several books featuring Charlie Mortdecai, three of those were published in his lifetime, and one posthumously. Charlie Mortdecai is the fictional art dealer anti-hero of the series. His character resembles, among other things, an amoral Bertie Wooster with occasional psychopathic tendencies. His books are still being published and have been translated into several different languages including Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese. All his books are highly entertaining, picaresque but politically incorrect.

His second wife, Margaret Bonfiglioli has written and compiled an anthology of works and anecdotes, called the Mortdecai ABC. (ISBN 0670910848 UK: Penguin / Viking, 2001)

The three original books:

• Don't Point That Thing At Me
• After You With The Pistol
• Something Nasty In The Woodshed

An historical prequel about one of Charie's Dutch ancestors.

• All the Tea in China

The posthumously completed sequel:

• The Great Mortdecai Moustache Mystery