Walter De La Mare (1873-1953) was born in Charlton, Kent, England. His father was an official at the Bank of England, and his mother (Lucy Sophia - Browning) was related to the poet Robert Browning.

Walter left school at 16 and from 1890 to 1908 he worked in the accounting department of the Anglo-American Oil Company in London.

His published writing career started in about 1895 when his story 'Kismet' appeared in 'Sketch' under the pseudonym Walter Ramal, and he wrote actively from then on until his death.

In 1908 de la Mare was awarded a yearly government pension of £100, and he devoted himself entirely to writing. He retired to Taplow in Buckinghamshire with his wife and four children. He died in Twickenham on June 22nd, 1958. Walter De La Mare is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.