W. H. Matthews

William Henry Matthews (1882–1948) is known for Mazes and Labyrinths: A General Account of Their History and Development, first published in 1922. The book traces labyrinths across cultures and periods, from ancient sites to garden mazes, and it remains the work most closely associated with his name.

Available sources suggest that his interest in the subject was shaped by both wide reading and personal experience. A family reminiscence says he served in World War I and later reflected on labyrinth material encountered while on the Arras Front. A later biographical note also describes him as someone who studied botany at Birkbeck College, served with the Royal Engineers, and kept lifelong interests in music, nature, and cycling.

What makes Matthews easy to enjoy is his tone: learned, curious, and never dry for long. He wrote as someone genuinely fascinated by how one idea can wind through myth, religion, design, and play, which helps explain why his maze book has continued to find new readers long after his lifetime.