Coburn was well read and, because if his admiration for many writers he wished to meet and photograph them. Commencing with George Bernhard Shaw, Coburn set out to portray many of the leading British authors of the early twentieth century. Among those that sat before his lens were G. K. Chesterton, Henry James, George Meredith, and William Butler Yeats.

In 1913, Coburn selected 33 of his most insightful portraits for the book "Men of Mark." As with his previous books, Coburn printed the exquisite photogravures on his own London press, in an edition of 300 copies. Continuing his skill at photographic portraiture, Coburn also issued a companion volume, "More Men of Mark," in 1921, printed in collotype.