Wonderland: From JM Barrie to JRR Tolkien

Delving into the lives and times of gifted photographer and inventor Lewis Carroll, the revolution-supporting Arthur Ransome, and AA Milne, whose son never forgave him for turning him into Christopher Robin.

JM Barrie had a troubled relationship with the children who inspired 'Peter Pan', Beatrix Potter gave up the love of her life but still created 'Peter Rabbit', and Edith Nesbit created a generous world where children are well treated.

Delving into the inspiration and often poignant lives that shaped the creative works of authors Frances Hodgson Burnett, Noel Streatfeild, Enid Blyton, Rudyard Kipling, and Kenneth Grahame.

Having participated in the Battle of the Somme, J. R. R. Tolkien drew upon the immense scale and devastation of the First World War to shape the world of Middle Earth depicted in his works.

Combining biography, literary extracts and quotations, get to know children's authors and the pain behind their well-known Christmas stories.