Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

Born in Norwich in 1810, he was an English author, editor, and reference-book compiler whose work blended scholarship with a gift for clear, approachable explanation. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and spent part of his early career in teaching before becoming widely known as a writer.

His reputation rests above all on Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, a book that gathered together legends, sayings, historical references, and literary allusions in a form ordinary readers could enjoy and use. He also produced other popular works of reference, including titles on readers' handbooks and historical or literary subjects, helping bring a huge range of information to a broad audience.

He died in 1897, but his books continued to circulate long after his lifetime. What still makes his work appealing is its mix of curiosity, range, and practical usefulness: he wrote for people who wanted learning to be enjoyable as well as informative.