Oliver Herford (1863 - 1935) was a British born American writer, artist and illustrator and creator of this book, has been called "The American Oscar Wilde." As a frequent contributor to The Mentor, Life, and Ladies' Home Journal, he sometimes signed his artwork as "O Herford." In 1906 he wrote and illustrated the Little Book of Bores. He also wrote short poems like The Chimpanzee and The Hen, as well as writing and illustrating Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten (1904), Cynic's Calendar (1917) and Excuse It Please (1930).

Book excerpt:

"A's Albert Edward, well meaning but flighty,
Who invited King Arthur, the blameless and mighty,
To meet Alcibiades and Aphrodite.

B is for Bernhardt, who fails to awaken
Much feeling in Bismarck, Barabbas, and Bacon."