Francis Marion Crawford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Marion Crawford
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| Born | August 2, 1854 Bagni di Lucca, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
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| Died | April 9, 1909 (aged 54) Villa Crawford, Sant'Agnello
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| Education | St Paul's School |
| Alma mater | Cambridge University University of Heidelberg University of Rome Harvard University |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Elizabeth Berdan
(after 1884) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Thomas Crawford Louisa Cutler Ward |
| Relatives | Mary Crawford Fraser (sister) Julia Ward Howe (aunt) |
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Francis Marion Crawford (born August 2, 1854 – died April 9, 1909) was an American writer. He was famous for his many novels, especially those set in Italy. He also wrote classic spooky and fantasy stories that are still enjoyed today.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Francis Marion Crawford was born in Bagni di Lucca, Italy, on August 2, 1854. His father, Thomas Crawford, was a famous American sculptor. His mother was Louisa Cutler Ward. Francis had a sister named Mary Crawford Fraser, who was also a writer. His aunt was Julia Ward Howe, a well-known American poet.
Francis went to many schools and universities. He studied at St Paul's School in New Hampshire. Later, he attended Cambridge University in England, the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and the University of Rome in Italy.
In 1879, he traveled to India. There, he studied Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. He also worked as an editor for a newspaper called The Indian Herald. After returning to America in 1881, he continued his Sanskrit studies at Harvard University. He also wrote for different magazines. During this time, he became close friends with Isabella Stewart Gardner, a famous art collector.
Francis's family worried about his future and how he would earn money. He even tried to become an opera singer, but it didn't work out. His uncle, Sam Ward, suggested he write about his experiences in India. This idea helped him connect with publishers in New York.
Becoming a Writer
In December 1882, Francis published his first novel, Mr. Isaacs. It was a story about life for English people in India, with a touch of mystery. The book was an instant success! His next book, Dr. Claudius, came out soon after in 1883.
In May 1883, Francis moved back to Italy. He made Italy his permanent home and bought a house there called Villa Crawford. More than half of his novels are set in Italy. He also wrote three long history books about Italy. He was even working on a history of Rome when he passed away. His deep connection to Italy made his books stand out from other American writers of his time.
Francis published many successful novels year after year. He was known for being a great storyteller. His books were full of life and interesting characters. Readers loved them because they were exciting and entertaining. Francis believed that novels should amuse and please readers, like an "intellectual artistic luxury." He thought a good novel should be well-balanced and fun to read, not just teach lessons.
Famous Book Series
One of his most famous series of books is the Saracinesca series. These books tell stories about an Italian family. The third book, Don Orsino (1892), is set during a time when real estate was booming. The fourth book, Corleone (1897), was one of the first major books to talk about the Sicilian Mafia. In this book, a priest cannot tell what he knows about a crime because of the Seal of the Confessional.
Fantasy and Horror Stories
Francis Marion Crawford loved his book Khaled: A Tale of Arabia (1891) the most. It's a fantasy story about a genie who becomes human.
He also wrote plays. His novel A Cigarette-Maker's Romance (1890) was turned into a popular play. In 1902, his friend, the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt, performed his play Francesca da Rimini in Paris. One of his most well-known plays was The White Sister (1909). This story was made into movies several times, in 1915, 1923, and 1933. Other books like In the Palace of the King and Mr. Isaacs were also made into films.
Some of his short stories are very famous in the horror genre. These include "The Upper Berth" (1886), "For the Blood Is the Life" (1905), and "The Screaming Skull" (1908). These spooky tales are often included in collections of classic horror stories. After he died, his collected weird stories were published as Wandering Ghosts in the U.S. and Uncanny Tales in the UK.
Personal Life
In 1880, Francis Marion Crawford became a Roman Catholic. In October 1884, he married Elizabeth Berdan. Her father was a general in the American Civil War. Francis and Elizabeth had four children: two sons (Harold and Bertram) and two daughters (Eleanor and Clara).
Francis Marion Crawford passed away in Sorrento, Italy, on April 9, 1909. He died from a heart attack. This was likely caused by a lung injury he got ten years earlier. He had inhaled toxic gases at a glass factory in Colorado while researching for his novel Marietta (1901), which was about glass-making in Venice.
His Lasting Impact
Many writers and critics have praised Francis Marion Crawford's supernatural stories. The famous ghost story writer M. R. James called "The Upper Berth" one of the best ghost stories ever written.
There are groups and centers dedicated to studying Francis Marion Crawford's work. The F. Marion Crawford Memorial Society was started in 1975. In Italy, the Centro Studi e Ricerche Francis Marion Crawford was founded in 1997 in Sant'Agnello, where he lived. They hold conferences to remember his work.
In Sant'Agnello, there is a major street named Corso Marion Crawford after him. His birthplace in Bagni di Lucca also has a historical marker. His home, Villa Crawford, is now a high school for girls run by the Salesian Sisters. There's even a literary prize for short stories named "Torre Crawford" in Italy.
Film Adaptations
Many of Francis Marion Crawford's books and stories have been made into movies:
- A Cigarette-Maker's Romance (1913, 1920)
- The White Sister (1915, 1923, 1933, 1960)
- In the Palace of the King (1915, 1923)
- Whosoever Shall Offend (1919)
- Il cuore di Roma (1919)
- Saracinesca (1921)
- Sant' Ilario (1923)
- Son of India (1931, based on Mr. Isaacs)
- The Screaming Skull (1958, named after his short story)
See also
In Spanish: F. Marion Crawford para niños
- Crawford and Theosophy
- List of horror fiction authors
