R. E. (Robert Edward) Francillon

Robert Edward Francillon was an English journalist and author, born in 1841 and remembered for a career that crossed journalism, fiction, poetry, and literary criticism. Sources agree that he trained as a barrister before turning to writing, and that he became deeply involved in the newspaper and magazine world of Victorian Britain.

He wrote for periodicals including Blackwood's Magazine and later worked on The Globe, where he rose to managing editor. Alongside journalism, he published a long list of novels and stories, including Earl's Dene, Olympia, A Dog and His Shadow, Strange Waters, Romances of the Law, Jack Doyle's Daughter, and the memoir Mid-Victorian Memories.

Francillon's background in both the law and the press gave his writing a practical, observant quality. For listeners exploring overlooked Victorian authors, he offers a lively mix of popular storytelling and firsthand connection to the literary culture of his time.