Margaret Lane entered the world on June 23, 1907, in the picturesque county of Cheshire, England. Her academic journey took her to St. Stephen's College in Folkstone and then to the hallowed halls of St. Hugh's College, Oxford. With journalistic ambition flowing through her veins, much like her father's—a distinguished newspaper editor—she carved out a career in journalism. From the bustling streets of London to the vibrant energy of New York, she honed her craft between 1928 and 1938. In a serendipitous twist of fate, 1934 saw her wed to Bryan Wallace, the firstborn of the spirited British novelist Edgar Wallace. Lane soon followed her literary calling, with her debut novel Faith, Hope and No Charity (1935) earning the prestigious Prix Femina-Vie Heureuse. Her sophomore work, At Last the Island (1937), emerged soon after. She then penned a meticulous biography of her quirky father-in-law, titled Edgar Wallace: The Biography of a Phenomenon (1938). However, her union with Bryan Wallace concluded in a divorce by 1939.

Biographies of Britain's most intriguing eccentrics have significantly colored Lane's literary canvas. With Walk into My Parlour (1941), she unveiled the life of Emma Shardiloe, a medium and spiritualist from the nineteenth century. Life with lonides (1963) delved into the peculiar adventures of an English snake collector in East Africa. Her explorations of the renowned yet unconventional include The Bronte Story (1953) and Samuel Johnson and His World (1975).

Perhaps Lane's most captivating biographical subject was Beatrix Potter, the reserved creator of beloved tales like Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, and Hunca-Munca. When Lane penned her book, the enigma of Potter's life remained largely unsolved. The revelation of Potter's passing in 1943 shocked many who believed she had left the world long before. Upon marrying Willie Heelis of Sawrey, Potter traded her literary fame for the life of Mrs. Heelis—a plainspoken countrywoman and sheep farmer. She instructed her publishers to keep her whereabouts a secret.

The Tale of Beatrix Potter stands as the definitive biography, sparking a renaissance of interest among Beatrix Potter enthusiasts. Since its original publication in 1946, Lane's biography has been revised and expanded, with the latest edition appearing in 1985, incorporating fresh insights over the years.

Lane's second matrimonial alliance was with Francis John Clarence Westenra Plantagenet Hastings, the fifteenth earl of Huntingdon, bestowing upon her the title of Countess of Huntingdon. Together, they welcomed two daughters into their lives and embarked on a daring quest for Zulu treasures along the frontier of Rhodesia and Mozambique, an adventure vividly chronicled in A Calabash of Diamonds (1961).

During the 1980s, Lane's literary focus shifted towards enchanting young minds with a series of picture books exploring the natural history of ordinary creatures, including The Squirrel (1981), The Beaver (1982), The Fish (1982), The Fox (1982), The Frog (1982), and The Spider (1982). These works, with their unsentimental yet humorous flair, echo the charm of Beatrix Potter's creations. Lane's accolades include presiding over the Women's Press Club, the Dickens Fellowship, the Johnson Society, the Jane Austen Society, and the Bronte Society. She presently resides in the charming locale of Beaulieu, England.