Ernest Bramah

He was assisted financially by his father, who had transformed in a short time from a factory hand to a wealthy man.

[4] It had few buyers, and was remaindered and pulped, though his father agreed to assist him financially while he made his way in Grub Street as a writer.

Bramah attained commercial and critical success with his creation of Kai Lung, an itinerant storyteller.

The Kai Lung stories are humorous tales set in China, often with fantasy elements such as dragons and gods.

What Might Have Been, published in 1907 and republished as The Secret of the League in 1909, is an anti-socialist dystopia representing Bramah's conservative political opinions.

[14] Bramah has been credited with the invention of the saying, quoted often as an ancient Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times", along with "May you come to the attention of those in authority" and "May you find what you are looking for".

[18] After his death, his widow presented a collection of all his published books to the Hammersmith borough libraries, for reference use only.

The Specimen Case by Ernest Bramah, with cover illustration by Mary Ellen Edwards .