Robert Ratcliffe Taylor is the author of popular histories of Victoria’s heritage architecture as well as several books on German history. He has a PhD from Stanford University, where he holds a major in modern European history and minors in medieval and Russian history. Robert is now professor emeritus in the history department at Brock University. Since 2003, he has served as a docent with the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, and enjoys giving public tours of the exhibits as well as of the Spencer Mansion. Robert was born in Victoria, BC, where he still resides.