Wallace Wilfred Swinburne Breem (13 May 1926 – 12 March 1990)^[1] was a British librarian and author.

He was the Librarian and Keeper of Manuscripts of the Inner Temple Law Library. His writing included non-fiction pieces, but he is probably best known for his three historical novels, especially Eagle in the Snow (1970).

Career

Breem was born in Kingston, Surrey^[2] and was educated at Westminster School.

At the age of 18, he entered the Indian Army's Officers Training School. In 1945 he was commissioned as an officer of the Guides Cavalry, the elite cavalry regiment, serving on the North West Frontier in armoured cars.

In 1947, following the Partition of India, Breem returned to England and held a variety of jobs, which included: a labourer in a tannery, an assistant to a veterinary surgeon, and a rent-collector in the East End of London. He joined the library staff of the Inner Temple, in London, in 1950.

Breem was a founder member of BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians), and at various times held the offices of: secretary, treasurer, chairman, vice-president, and president in that organization.