Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) was an English author and poet who wrote or collaborated on more than sixty books of children's literature. Called the first modern writer for children, she wrote in a style that combined realistic contemporary children in real-world settings with magical objects and included adventures and sometimes travel to imaginary worlds. In so doing, she influenced many subsequent writers, including P. L. Travers, C. S. Lewis, and J. K. Rowling.