Michael Close was born at Golders Green in north London on 22 December 1914. He attended University College School, Hampstead, before going up to St. John’s College, Cambridge in 1933. Having taken a second class in part I of the historical tripos, he switched to English, and gained a first in part II (1936). Following two terms teaching at Repton he went out to India in September 1937, and taught English at Delhi for three years. He served as an officer in the Rajputana Rifles from 1940 to 1946 (MC 1945), and in 1947 joined the staff of Islamia College at Peshawar, the city in which he was to spend the remainder of his teaching career. After retirement from Islamia College in 1977 he taught at Edwardes College until 1996. He was also appointed Reader in English at the University of Peshawar in 1963. He made regular visits to England and travelled in Europe, but regarded Peshawar as his home. He was awarded an OBE in 1983, and died on 18 October 1999.