The Englishman never enjoys himself except for a noble purpose.

A. P. Herbert (1890-1971) was a British author, playwright, poet, and politician. He was born in Oxford and educated at Oxford University, where he studied law. Herbert served in the Royal Navy during World War I. He was elected to the British Parliament as a Conservative in 1935 and served for the next 30 years. Herbert was an active campaigner for political and social reform, and was an advocate for the rights of the individual. He wrote more than 40 books, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. He is best known for his satirical novel, "Misleading Cases in the Common Law" (1936). Herbert was also a prolific writer of humorous verse, often published in Punch magazine.