Children's authors enchant, educate and endure. From Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and the charming adventures of A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, to the spellbinding magic of J.R.R. Tolkien and J. K. Rowling, their creations fire our imagination. But what inspires them? Why do they write? In over 50 biographies, Julia Eccleshare illuminates the lives of British authors from the last 100 years, exploring their inspirations, influences and ideas. Illustrated throughout with photographs, paintings and drawings, as well as manuscripts and covers, this enthralling book takes readers back to their favorite childhood classics and introduces new authors for further reading.