Anna Proudfoot was born in Scotland but spent large parts of her life in Italy. After graduating from London University, she taught Italian in adult, higher and further education, in Cambridge, London, California, and Oxford. She is Senior Lecturer in Italian at Oxford Brookes University. Her special interests are in developing materials for the adult learner. She is the author of several Italian language books and grammars, including Italian Grammar (Hodder 3rd edition 2003) and Routledge Intensive Italian course (2004). In 2007, she was awareded one of Italy's highest honours for her contribution to Italian culture and language: the Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity).