Walter John de la Mare (1873-1956) was an English poet, short story writer and novelist, probably best remembered for his works for children and the poem "The Listeners." He was born in Kent, descended from a family of French Huguenots, and was educated at St Paul's Cathedral School. "The Return" (first published in 1910) describes how Arthur Lawford, falling asleep by the grave of a Huguenot adventurer who has died by his own hand, wakes to find himself physically changed into that man.