 His mother was a close friend of Thackeray and other literary figures, and his father was a devotee of the theatre, and young Brookfield grew up used to the company of artists and celebrities.With his brother Arthur, he created "dramatic diversions" at home.He was educated at Westminster School, from 1871 to 1873, and over the next two years attended lectures at King's College London, while also studying French theatre and becoming a reviewer of novels for "The Examiner" and a member of the Savile Club at the early age of seventeen.