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Flora Annie Steel (1847- 1929) was an English writer who spent most of her adult life living in, and writing about, India. In later life she moved to Scotland, where her interest in folk tales led her to publish ‘English Fairy Tales’, in conjunction with the famous illustrator, Arthur Rackham.

Arthur Rackham (1867 – 1939) was an English illustrator responsible for the pictures in a huge number of classic children’s titles, many of which feature in the Wordsworth list. ‘Mother Goose’ was a collection of traditional nursery rhymes which he edited and illustrated.

Anna Sewell (1820 – 1878) had just one book published. Written while in ill health, she sold it to a local publisher for £40. Published five months before her death, ‘Black Beauty’ is the most popular animal story ever written, and the sixth best seller in the English language.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was the writer of ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’, that was at one stage the second most popular book after the the Bible.

(Adeline) Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) was an English writer, whose innovative, experimental novels have had a lasting effect on the development of modern literature. Her books, such as ‘Mrs Dalloway’, ‘The Waves’ and ‘To the Lighthouse’, with their stream-of-consciousness structure, have led her to be recognised as one of the most significant writers of the twentieth century.

Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849 – 1924) was an English writer who spent much of her life in America. Her most popular book during her lifetime was ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’, but she is better remembered now for ‘The Little Princess’ and particularly ‘The Secret Garden’.

John Meade Falkner (1858 – 1932) a teacher, tutor and successful industrialist. Notable among the relatively small number of books that he wrote was ‘Moonfleet’, a tale of smugglers that was a much-loved book for young readers for many years.

Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856 – 1925) was an English writer famous for his adventure stories set in Africa, ‘King Solomon’s Mines’ and its sequel, ‘Allan Quatermain’.

Thomas Hughes (1822 – 1896) attended Rugby School. The school and its headmaster, Dr Thomas Arnold, served as his inspiration for ‘Tom Brown’s School Days’, an adventure based on life in a public school.