George Holbert Tucker was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1909. He graduated from Maury High School in 1928. Forced by the depression to forgo college, he worked for a law firm, and later the WPA, before entering the Navy during World War II.

Following his discharge, he joined the staff of the Virginian Pilot newspaper, writing featured articles, local history, and obituaries. It was said that if George didn't write your obituary, you hadn't amounted to anything.

He officially retired from the paper in 1974, but after two weeks decided that "retirement is for the birds" and returned to write a weekly column. His best columns were collected in his many books.

A life-long Jane Austen fan, George wrote two books on Austen -- "A Goodly Heritage: A History of Jane Austen's Family" and "Jane Austen the Woman: Some Biographical Insights."

In 1998, Old Dominion University awarded him "the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa."

He died in Norfolk in 2005 at the age of 95.