E. (Eduard) Gerdes

Born on 12 August 1821 in Kleve, Germany, he grew up in the Netherlands and trained as a teacher. After working briefly in Bielefeld, he later moved with his family to Amsterdam, where he became connected with Jan de Liefde and the Christian social movement Tot Heil des Volks.

He worked as a free evangelist in several places, including Amsterdam, the peat colonies near Stadskanaal, Haarlem, and Doetinchem. At the same time, he built an enormous writing career in children's literature, producing more than 250 books and contributing heavily to Protestant youth periodicals.

His stories were known for combining clear moral purpose with lively plots, often set during the Dutch Revolt and the "geuzentijd." He died in Doetinchem on 12 December 1898, leaving behind a large body of work that remained closely tied to 19th-century Dutch Protestant reading culture.