function parse_author( $author )
{
    $matches = array();

    if (preg_match( "/(\w.*\b) *, *(\b.*\w)/", $author, $matches)) {
	$first = $matches[2];
	$last = $matches[1];
    } elseif (preg_match( "/(\w.*\b) (\w+)/", $author, $matches)) {
	$first = $matches[1];
	$last = $matches[2];
    } elseif (preg_match( "/(\w+)/", $author, $matches)) {
	$first = "";
	$last = $matches[1];
    } else {
	$first = "";
	$last = "Unknown";
    }

    return array( $first, $last );
}