BLACKMORE, RICHARD DODDRIDGE 1900), English novelist, was born at Longworth, Berks, of which village his father was curate-in-charge. He was educated at Blundell's school, Tiverton, and Exeter college, Oxford, and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1852. His first publica tion was a volume of Poems by Melanter (1854), which showed no particular promise, nor did the succeeding volume, Epullia suggest that Blackmore had the makings of a poet. In 1864 he published his first novel, Clara Vaughan, the merits of which were promptly recognized. Cradock Nowell (1866) followed, but it was in 1869 that he suddenly sprang into fame with Lorna Doone. This fine story was a pioneer in the romantic revival; and, appearing at a jaded hour, it was presently recognized as a work of singular charm, vigour and imagination. Though Black more wrote many other capital stories, he is remembered almost exclusively as the author of Lorna Doone, now an accepted classic of the West country.