W. A. (William Aubrey) Darlington

Born in 1890, W. A. Darlington — William Aubrey Cecil Darlington — became known in Britain both as a novelist and as a theater critic. He is most closely linked with Alf's Button, a comic fantasy novel that found a wide audience and was adapted for the screen.

Alongside his fiction, Darlington built a long career in journalism and criticism. He served as drama critic for The Daily Telegraph for many years, and his name became familiar to readers interested in London theater and stage life.

He also wrote about the theater more directly, including books such as The World of Gilbert and Sullivan. That mix of popular storytelling and informed criticism gives his work a special place for readers who enjoy early 20th-century British entertainment and theatrical culture.