| Herbert Best | |
| Birth Date: | 25 March 1894 |
| Birth Name: | Oswald Herbert Best |
| Death Date: | July 1980 (aged 86) |
| Occupation: | Writer |
| Nationality: | American |
| Genre: | Children's literature Science fiction |
| Notableworks: | |
| Spouse: | Erick Berry |
Oswald Herbert Best (March 25, 1894 – July 1980) was a British-American author of children's literature and science fiction.
Best was born on March 25, 1894. He married fellow author Allena Champlin, better known by her pen name Erick Berry.[1] He held bachelor's degrees in arts and laws from Queens' College, Cambridge. He died in July 1980, at the age of 86.
Best published a number of books between the 1930s and '60s. Many of his works were for children, and illustrated by Berry. One of these was perhaps his most lauded work, , published in 1930. It won a Newbery Honor in 1931. He also wrote at least one work of science fiction, 1940's The Twenty-Fifth Hour.
Outside of his writing career, he fought in World War I and spent time working for the British Civil Service in Nigeria as an administrative officer.[2] His experiences in Africa were significant influences on some of his works. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.