Walter de la Mare was born in Charlton in Kent on April 25, 1873. Born to James Edward and Lucy Sophie de la Mare. He was educated at St. Paul's Cathedral Choir School in London. It was at St. Paul's that young de la Mare began his journey as a life long writer. At sixteen years of age he founded the school's first magazine called The Choristers Journal and de la Mare contributed much of his own work for the first few volumes of the magazine (McCrosson 12). Unable to go on to college, he left school to join with the company Standard Oil Company as their bookkeeper (Fleischmann 276). He stayed with the company for nineteen years. De la Mare married in 1899 to a girl named Constance Elfrida Igpen. The couple settled in and had four children two girls and two boys (McCrosson 12).
             In 1895 he was published in The Sketch, this was the first time being published since his school magazine venture (McCrosson 12). Walter de la Mare's first short story was published in the Cornhill Magazine in 1896. There was an introductory note stating that the readers "could hardly fail to think that the spirit of A.E. Poe is once more abroad" (Fleischmann 276). In 1908 de la Mare reeived a royal grant which enabled him to support his family while actively pursuing his writing career. The world of literature has become greatly enriched by that royal grant.
             With his grant de la Mare reached notariety for his literature. He is noted for more than just his poetry. Short stories and novels are also a big part of his repertoire and would be a welcome addition to anyone's library. Some of his short stories include: Out of the Deep, The Riddle, Missing the Revenant, The Lost Track, A Recluse, Strangers and Pilgrims, What Dreams May Come, Mr. Kempe, Seaton's Aunt, Physic, Crewe, The Wharf, The Monkey's Paw and many others. His list of novels include: Memoirs of a Midget, The Return, Henry Brocken, The Three Mulla-Mulgers (reprinted i...