Oliver Herford (1863–1935) was an Anglo-American writer, artist, and humorist, often referred to as 'The American Oscar Wilde'. Born in Sheffield, England, Herford moved to the United States with his family as a child. He attended the Art Students League of New York, and later, the Slade School of Art in London. His talents spanned both visual and literary arts, and his witty aphorisms and whimsical poetry gained him a reputation as a minor master of light verse and satire within his era. Herford's literary contributions include a charming assembly of books, often featuring his own illustrations. Among his notable works is 'The Smoker's Year Book' (1908), a quaint piece offering a light-hearted, poetic reflection on smoking, adorned with his own playful drawings. His writing style is characterized by a combination of whimsy and sharp wit, and he often engaged in wordplay and humorous commentary on society. Herford's body of work reflects his espousal of aestheticism and his ability to observe and articulate the world with a quip and a twinkle. Though much of Herford's work is out of the mainstream literary canon today, his influence remains within the world of children's literature and illustration, as well as among aficionados of early 20th-century humor.