Peter Hopkirk
Every one of his history books is fascinating. They all focus on different parts of Asia in late 19th/early 20th century, involving spys, global politics and derring do. It's hard to pick a favourite - probably between Foreign Devils on the Silk Road and The Great Game.
He led an interesting life too. In his national service he served alongside Idi Amin, as a journalist he covered the Algerian revolution and the Bay of Pigs, he was arrested for spying in Cuba and was on a plane hijacked by the PLO.