W. H. (William Henry) Koebel

Born in Forest Hill, London, in 1872, William Henry Koebel was an English author and businessman whose writing centered on travel, commerce, and the wider Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking world. His books ranged across Portugal, Madeira, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, reflecting a strong interest in how places, people, and trade connected.

Koebel became known for accessible works that mixed description, history, and practical knowledge. He wrote travel and regional studies such as Portugal, Madeira: Old and New, and South America, and he is also associated with the early South American Handbook, first published in 1921. Alongside this nonfiction work, he also wrote fiction, including The Singular Republic.

He died in London on June 20, 1923. Although he is not a household name today, his books remain useful for readers interested in early 20th-century views of travel, business, and Latin America.