Henry Everett McNeil (1862-1929) was a prominent children's author in the early 20th century and a key figure in the literary circle known as the Kalem Club, which included H.P. Lovecraft. Born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, McNeil served in the Spanish-American War before settling in New York City. He gained recognition for his boys' adventure books and stories, often set in historical landscapes, and published under the name 'Everett McNeil'. His works, aimed at young readers, avoided moralistic preaching and political details. Some of his notable books include The Hermit of the Culebra Mountains (1904), The Lost Treasure Cave (1905), and The Lost Nation (1918). Alongside his writing career, McNeil worked as a scriptwriter in the early film industry. Despite his publications, he lived in poverty and passed away in 1929. McNeil's friendship with Lovecraft and his untimely death inspired elements of Lovecraft's works, including the sonnet "The Pigeon-Flyers" and the fictional character Dr. McNeil in "The Curse of Yig".
