Twin brothers Edward Julius Detmold and Charles Maurice Detmold were born in 1883. Born in London, they grew up with their uncle, Dr. E. B. Shuldham, due to an illness their father had. Shuldham had a large collection of Japanese woodprints of animals and plants that encouraged the twins to begin drawing at an early age. Many of the subjects the twins focused on were, subsequently, animals and plants. By the time they were thirteen they put some watercolors on exhibition at the Royal Academy. By 1898 they had a portfolio of etchings made. These etchings were highly admired and they sold out quickly. For both the brothers, their favorite subjects were animals. Many of the illustrations and etchings the brothers produced were a joint effort, and in 1899 they produced a book of illustrations together called "Pictures From Birdland." The next major accomplishment of the brothers was a portfolio of sixteen watercolors inspired by Kipling's "The Jungle Book." All of the watercolors were put in the 1908 Macmillan edition of "The Jungle Book" Between the two brothers, Maurice was the more talented one, and both were well on their way to success, when Maurice committed suicide in 1908 at the age of 24. The only reason ever given for his suicide was "whilst unsound of mind" by the coroner. Although Edward was highly surprised by the sudden death of his brother, he managed to keep on going with life, and continued with his work. Because he was so stunned with the suicide, he only etched a few more plates, and then concentrated mainly on watercolors, until in 1922 when he began to pick up etching again.
In Edward's next book his illustrations are what defined him to publishers and their clients alike. These were the 1909 works titled "The Fables of Aesop," which he produced 23 color plates and several pen and ink chapter headings. These are also published in David Larkin's "The Fantastic Creatures of Edward Julius Detmold.