Edith Nesbit was one of the most widely read authors of her time, a pioneer in the children's fantasy genre, and a wildly prolific author with over sixty juvenile novels and fiction collections. Her talent for writing children with humor, dignity, and emotional complexity would endear her to generations of devoted fans including literary luminaries like Gore Vidal and Neil Gaiman.Known for writing romping adventures featuring shrewd children often absent parental oversight, her personal life was no less lively and dramatic. She hosted celebrated salons for writers and intellectuals, helped found the Fabian Society-a socialist precursor to the Labor Party in England, and even raised children resulting from her husband's many affairs, including Rosamund who received the dedication for Book of Dragons.