Ernest Bramah, born Ernest Brammah Smith on March 20, 1868, in Manchester, England, was a prolific English author known for his versatility and imaginative storytelling. Bramah pursued various professions before establishing his literary career, including work on a farm and as a secretary to Jerome K. Jerome. He started his writing career with light articles and humor, but he gained considerable acclaim with the creation of the character Kai Lung, an itinerant storyteller, whose adventures are narrated in 'The Wallet of Kai Lung' (1900) amongst other works. Another significant contribution by Bramah was his foray into political science fiction with 'The Secret of the League' (1907), also known as 'What Might Have Been', which presents an astute critique of contemporary politics through the lens of speculative fiction. The tale unfolds in an alternative Britain, gripping the reader with its detail and plausibility. His literary style is marked by a keen intelligence and a dry wit, characteristics that have earned him a dedicated following, albeit not as large as some of his contemporaries. Despite his fading from the public eye over time, Bramah's work, especially his detective stories featuring the blind detective Max Carrados, has remained of interest to aficionados of classic crime and speculative fiction. Bramah passed away on June 27, 1942, leaving behind a diverse and influential body of work that continues to be appreciated for its originality and wit.