Lewis Carroll, a gifted photographer and inventor, is the originator of the notion of `Wonderland'; Arthur Ransome is a supporter of the Russian Revolution; A.A. Milne is never forgiven by his son for turning him into Christopher Robin.

J. M. Barrie has a troubled relationship with the children who inspired `Peter Pan'; Beatrix Potter has to give up the love of her life but still creates Peter Rabbit; Edith Nesbit creates a generous world where children are well treated.

In her literary works, Noel Streatfeild intricately weaves narratives that empower and celebrate the journeys of young women.

Having participated in the Battle of the Somme, J.R.R. Tolkien draws upon the immense scale and devastation of those conflicts to shape the world depicted in all of his work.

Combining biography, literary extracts and quotations, get to know children's authors and the pain behind their well-known Christmas stories.