R. D. BlackmoreRichard Doddridge Blackmore (1825-1900) was an English novelist and poet who is best known for his novel Lorna Doone, published in 1869.Blackmore was born in Longworth, Berkshire, England and was educated at Blundell's School and Exeter College, Oxfod. After graduating, he worked as a lawyer but eventually turned to writing. He began his literary career as a poet, publishing several volumes of verse, including Epullia and other Poems (1856) and The Bugle of the Black Sea (1861). However, Blackmore achieved his greatest success as a novelist. His most famous work, Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor, is set in the 17th century and tells the story of a farmer named John Ridd who falls in love with Lorna Doone, a member of a notorious outlaw family in the Exmoor region of England. The novel was a huge success and is still considered a classic of English literature. Blackmore was a philanthropist and supporter of social reform, particularly in the areas of education and housing. He died in 1900 and is remembered as one of the most popular and enduring novelists of the Victorian era. Read More Read Less