Hall Caine (1853-1931) was a British author whose novels, short stories, poems, and criticism made him the most successful writer of his day. Born in Liverpool, Caine trained as an architectural draftsman before becoming a successful lecturer and theater critic. He then moved to London to live and work with the famous Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti, at which point Caine's literary career began in earnest. He went on to publish dozens of novels, stories, and plays, some of which would inspire important films from directors such as Alfred Hitchcock. Toward the end of Caine's career, he involved himself in local and international politics, undertaking humanitarian trips to Russia and advocating for American support for Allied forces during the Great War.