Walter delaMare author page

Walter de la Mare biography

Walter de la Mare was an English poet, short story writer, and novelist, known for his works for both children and adults. He was born in 1873 and educated at St Paul’s Cathedral School in London. De la Mare began his career working for the Anglo-American Oil Company, but later devoted himself to writing.

De la Mare’s poetry is noted for its imaginative qualities and often explores themes of childhood, dreams, and the supernatural. His first collection of poems, Songs of Childhood, was published in 1902 under the name Walter Ramal. He went on to publish numerous poetry collections, including Peacock Pie (1913), which is widely recognised as a significant contribution to children’s literature.

In addition to poetry, de la Mare wrote novels and short stories. His novel The Return was published in 1910. He is also known for his supernatural and psychological short stories, such as those collected in The Riddle and Other Stories (1923).

De la Mare received several literary honours during his lifetime. He was awarded the Carnegie Medal in 1947 for his children’s novel Collected Stories for Children, published by Faber and Faber in 1947.