A.P. Herbert (Sir Alan Patrick Herbert) was an English humorist, novelist, playwright, poet, barrister, and independent Member of Parliament. Born in 1890, he served with distinction in the First World War, including at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. After the war he became one of Britain’s best-known comic writers, contributing for many years to Punch magazine. He was also a successful campaigner for legal reform, helping to bring about changes to British divorce law through the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1937. His writing ranges from satire and fiction to poetry, light opera, and legal humor.

Books:

1919 The Secret Battle
1921 The House by the River
1928 Honeybubble & Co.
1930 The Water Gipsies
1932 No Boats on the River
1934 Holy Deadlock
1951 Number Nine

Humor and legal satire

Misleading Cases in the Common Law (1927)
Uncommon Law (1935)
The Ayes Have It: The Story of the Marriage Bill (1937)
The Point of Parliament (1946)
Independent Member (1950)

Topsy books:
A popular series based on humorous letters first published in Punch:

The Trials of Topsy (1928)
Topsy, M.P. (1929)
Topsy Turvy (1947)
The Topsy Omnibus (1949)

Poetry:

The Bomber Gipsy and Other Poems (1919)
The Wherefore and the Why (1921)
Laughing Ann and Other Poems (1925)
Plain Jane (1927)
Ballads for Broadbrows (1930)
A Book of Ballads (1931)
Let Us Be Glum (1941)
Siren Song (1941)
Well, Anyhow… (1942)
Bring Back the Bells (1943)
Less Nonsense! (1944)
Light the Lights (1945)
Leave My Old Morale Alone (1948)
Full Enjoyment and Other Verses (1952)
Silver Stream (1962)

Plays and light operas:

Home and Beauty (1937)
Big Ben (1946)
Bless the Bride (1947)

Other notable works:

Little Rays of Moonshine (1921)
The Man About Town (1923)
The Old Flame (1925)
Tinker, Tailor: A Child’s Guide to the Professions (1928)
What a Word! (1935)
Mild and Bitter (1936)
Sip!: Swallow! (1938)
General Cargo (1940)
A Better Sky (1944)
The War Story of Southend Pier (1945)