Francis Marion Crawford was an American expatriate writer known for his atmospheric supernatural romances. Raised in Italy, he infused his novels like The Witch of Prague and Mr. Isaacs with European locales and mystical themes. Crawford rejected realism, favoring melodrama and the uncanny. His prolific output included historical fiction and ghost stories, earning him popularity in the late 19th century. A master of suspense, he influenced later weird fiction writers like H.P. Lovecraft.