Martyn Lyons este un important istoric al cartii. S-a nascut la Londra, a urmat cursurile Universitatii Oxford, iar in prezent este profesor la School of History and Philosophy din cadrul Universitatii New South Wales, Sydney, tinand cursuri in calitate de profesor invitat in Franta, Anglia, Brazilia si Spania. A publicat numeroase titluri despre istoria cartii si a lecturii, printre care: Readers and Society in Nineteenth-Century France: Workers, Women, Peasants (2001), Ordinary Writings, Personal Narratives: Writing Practices in 19th- and Early 20th-Century Europe (2007).