Norman Dalziel Warne (1868 – 25 August 1905) was the third son of publisher Frederick Warne, and joined his father's firm Frederick Warne & Co. as editor. In 1900 the company rejected Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but eventually reconsidered and published the book in October 1902 to great success.[1] Norman Warne became Potter's editor and they worked together on several subsequent books and spinoffs such as soft toys and The Game of Peter Rabbit.[1]
In 1904 Potter and Warne worked closely together to develop a tale about two mice and a doll house. Potter began spending more time at the firm's offices and took several trips to Warne's home to sketch a doll house he was constructing for his nieces. In July 1905 Warne proposed. Potter accepted, but, before a marriage could take place, Warne died suddenly and unexpectedly of pernicious anemia on 25 August 1905.