Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion), 1854-1909

Novelist.

From the description of Letter and photographs [manuscript] 1894 April 5. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647943005

From the description of Letters to James Rennell Rodd, Baron Rennell [manuscript] 1884-1887. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647943002

Francis Marion Crawford was born in 1854 in Bagni di Lucca (Italy), to American parents: the sculptor Thomas Crawford (1813?-1857), and Louisa Cutler Ward Crawford (later Terry), Julia Ward Howe's sister. Through the 1880s and 1890s, Crawford wrote more than forty romance and adventure novels and popular histories, mostly set in Italy, which enjoyed great success in the United States and worldwide.

From the guide to the Correspondence, 1879-1910., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

Francis Marion Crawford was an American writer born in 1854 in Italy to American parents, the sculptor Thomas Crawford and Louisa Cutler Ward Crawford (later Terry), Julia Ward Howe's sister. Following education in Europe and America, Crawford first tried writing in Boston in the early 1880s; his first novel was a success. He returned to Europe; married Elizabeth Christophers Berdan, daughter of General Hiram Berdan; and purchased a property in Sant'Agnello di Sorrento, Italy, which became Villa Crawford. The couple raised two sons and two daughters. Through the 1880s and 1890s Crawford wrote over forty romance and adventure novels and histories, many set in Italy and most selling well in both America and Europe; he traveled often to lecture and write, as well as to sail in his yacht, the Alda. Crawford wrote almost daily to his wife when he lectured in America, sailed off the Italian coast, or when she fled the summer heat of Villa Crawford.

From the description of F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford papers, 1864-1967 (inclusive), 1883-1908 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612734172

American novelist.

From the description of Letters, 1895 April 20 & 1902, Italy, to Clement Shorter [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647804768

From the description of Letters of F. Marion Crawford [manuscript] 1894-1905. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647805873

From the description of Letter [manuscript] : Sorrento, Italy, to Clara E. Laughlin, Chicago, Illinois, 1895 October 2. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647806161

From the description of Typed letter signed : New York, to Laurens Maynard, 1893 Feb. 8. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270539262

Crawford was an American novelist.

From the description of Compositions, 1888-1907. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 80362432

From the guide to the Compositions, 1888-1907., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

American author.

From the description of Letter [manuscript] : Villa Crawford Sant'Agnello di Sorrento, to Henry James, 1907 March 9. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647832553

From the description of Letter, Sorrento, Italy, to an unknown admirer, 1885 August 31 [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647833112

From the description of Letters of F. Marion Crawford [manuscript], 1883 and 1897. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647825766

From the description of Letters : to Lady Pollock and Edgar Sheppard, 1884-1889 [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647833913

Author.

From the description of F. Marion Crawford papers, 1881-1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145733673

Crawford was a successful author of romance and adventure novels.

From the description of Correspondence, 1879-1910. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 78342923

Francis Marion Crawford was born in 1854 in Bagni di Lucca (Italy), to American parents: the sculptor Thomas Crawford (1813?-1857), and Louisa Cutler Ward Crawford (later Terry), Julia Ward Howe's sister.

After education in Rome, Concord (N.H.), England, Germany, and India, Crawford went to Boston in 1881 to try writing and possibly politics. He returned to Europe after success with his first novel, continuing to write and in 1884 marrying Elizabeth Christophers Berdan, daughter of General Hiram Berdan, rifle inventor, engineer, and Civil War sharpshooter. The couple first lived with Crawford's mother in Rome, but, after the birth of the first of their four children, Crawford bought a cliff-side property in Sant'Agnello di Sorrento, Italy, which became the Villa Crawford. The growing family eventually adopted the surname Marion-Crawford.

Through the 1880s and 1890s, Crawford wrote more than forty romance and adventure novels and popular histories, most set in Italy, most published by Macmillan & Co., and most enjoying great success in the United States and worldwide. He traveled to the United States often to lecture and to write; he also visited to direct the legal affairs of the Berdan Firearms Manufacturing Company, created by his father-in-law, in its patent claims against the U.S. government. During the summer months, Crawford also sailed off the Italian coast on his yacht, the Alda; his wife, too, traveled seasonally, and the resulting separations were bridged with almost daily correspondence.

From the guide to the F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford papers, 1864-1967 (inclusive), 1883-1908 (bulk)., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)