Frederic (1856-98) was an American journalist and novelist. After leaving school at 15, he worked for four years as a photographic touch-up artist and later became a reporter. By 1882 he was editor of the Albany Evening Journal and two years later moved to England as London correspondent of the New York Times, a position he held for the rest of his life. After several earlier stories the publication of The Damnation of Theron Ware (1896) and Gloria Mundi (1898) saw his talent as a novelist fully recognised. One of his earlier novels, The Lawton Girl was first published in 1890.