author
W. B. (William Brighty ) Rands
1823–1882
Best remembered as one of the Victorian era’s great nursery-rhyme writers, this self-taught London author brought warmth, wit, and imagination to poems, stories, and essays for children. He also led a busy life in journalism, writing under several pen names along the way.
1 Audiobook
Lilliput Lyrics
by W. B. (William Brighty ) Rands
About the author
Born in Chelsea on December 24, 1823, he had only a limited formal education and was largely self-taught. Even so, he built a remarkably varied literary career and became known for lively, memorable writing for young readers.
He worked as a parliamentary reporter and journalist, including for the Illustrated London News, while also publishing poems, essays, stories, and books for children. He wrote under several pseudonyms, especially Matthew Browne, Henry Holbeach, and T. Talker.
Today he is most often remembered for his nursery rhymes and children’s verse, and has been described as one of the major writers of Victorian nursery literature. He died in East Dulwich, London, on April 23, 1882.