Herbert Ernest Bates (16 May 1905 – 29 January 1974) was a British writer known for his gritty, realistic short stories (he wrote more than 25 collections) and novels set predominantly in early- to mid-20th century England. His rural upbringing and love of flowers and gardening (on which he wrote two books) informed much of his writing. The semiautobiographical "Love for Lydia" has detailed descriptions of nature in winter, and of the big grounds of Aspen Hall where he meets Lydia. His best-known works include Love for Lydia, Fair Stood the Wind for France, The Darling Buds of May, and My Uncle Silas. Many of his short stories were adapted for British television in the 1970s.
