Arthur Ransome

He was born in 1884 and became an author and journalist. His best known Wales are a series called "Swallow sand"
Many of his books involve sailing fishing and camping. His father died when he was 13 years, similar to Roald Dahl his dad died young. His schooling was not enjoyable because he had poor eyesight, lack of athletic skill and limited academic achievement. Unlike Roald Dahl who also had a bad experience in school but excelled at athletics and sports. He abandoned college to go to London to become a writer.
Some early work included,
The nature book for children. Bohemia in London 1907 was his first important book where he introduced the history of London's bohemian literacy and artistic communities. A curiosity in 1903 about a visiting Japanese poet Yone Noguchi led to an ongoing friendship with Japanese painter Yoshio Markino.
Ransome began writing books of biography and literacy criticism on various authors this unfortunately led to a court hearing for libel.
In 1913 Ransome went to Russia to study Russian folklore and this led to him publishing Old Peter's Folktales from Russia. In 1914 he became a foreign correspondent covering the eastern front during World War 1 and then stayed to cover Russian Revelation in 1917. He did provide some information to the British Secret intelligence source at this time.
This espionage is similar to Roald Dahl who provided information to MI6 when he was in America. Following the period Ransome and his 2nd Russian wife came back to England where he settled and decided to concentrate on writing children's books.
Neither Roald Dahl or Arthur Ransome were illustrators they hired one to do the images for them.
His images are more detailed and dull, there's no colour in it, it would look nicer with colour. Their very different compared to Roald Dahl, one is detailed and dull and the other is simple and colourful.