Howard Pyle (1853-1911), author and illustrator, was born in Wilmington, Delaware. Inspired as a child by Grimm's German Fairy Tales and The Arabian Nights, he decided as an adult to write and illustrate stories for children. After some success contributing to children's magazines, he became famous with his book The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire. He also wrote and illustrated historical romances and fairy stories.
