Richard Doddridge Blackmore (June 7, 1825 – January 20, 1900), known professionally as R. D. Blackmore, was one of the most celebrated English novelists of the second half of the nineteenth century. He was acclaimed for his vivid descriptions and portrayals of the countryside, sharing with Thomas Hardy the backdrop of the West of England and a strong sense of regionalism in his works.
Often referred to as “the last of the Victorians,” Blackmore was a pioneer in the short story movement that continued with Robert Louis Stevenson and others. He was described as “arrogant, shy, reticent, strong-willed, mild-mannered, and self-centered.” With the exception of his novel Lorna Doone, which remains enduringly popular, his works are out of print.
He was also a lawyer, according to his 1881 census entry in the National Census of England and Wales, aged 55, and his listed residence was Teddington, Middlesex.