Herbert Strang was the collaborative pseudonym of English writers George Herbert Ely (1866–1958) and Charles James L'Estrange (1867–1947). Operating as a single literary identity, the duo specialized in writing historical and modern-day adventure stories aimed primarily at young boys. Both men were staff members at Oxford University Press, the prestigious institution that published their books. This professional association lent their publications a sense of social respectability and educational approval, which appealed greatly to the parents of their target audience.\n\nActive during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Ely and L'Estrange became prominent figures in the genre of British imperial fiction. Their narrative style and thematic focus drew significant inspiration from the works of Jules Verne, and they were widely regarded as the literary successors to G. A. Henty. Among their most successful individual titles was the fast-paced adventure novel Round the World in Seven Days.\n\nIn addition to authoring original novels, the "Herbert Strang" moniker was utilized to curate and edit several popular anthology series, including The Big Book of School Stories for Boys and The Oxford Annual for Scouts. The brand also expanded into literature for girls under the pen name "Mrs. Herbert Strang," which was used to publish anthologies and adventure novels such as the robinsonade The Girl Crusoes.
