Richard Curle, 1883-1968, was an author, traveler and bibliophile. In his early career he wrote leaders for such newspapers as the Pretoria News (South Africa), The Rangoon Times (Burma), and The Daily Mail (London). He also wrote articles for other newspapers and magazines, short stories, and books of fiction and non-fiction. In 1912 Curle was introduced to Joseph Conrad and, as a consequence of their long-standing friendship, much of Curle's writings and correspondence with colleagues and friends reflects his considerable knowledge of Conrad and his works.

Elizabeth von Arnim, 1866-1941, was an Australian novelist. Born Mary Annette Beauchamp, she was married to Count Henning August von Arnim of Prussia in 1891. After his death she married John Francis Stanley Russell, the 2nd earl Russell. She wrote under the pseudonym "Elizabeth," and is best known for her extremely popular novel Elizabeth and Her German Garden (1898). Much of her work was autobiographical in nature and detailed her experiences in German high society.