Sir Hugh Walpole was an English novelist. He was the son of an Anglican clergyman, intended for a career in the church but drawn instead to writing. His skill at scene-setting and vivid plots, as well as his high profile as a lecturer, brought him a large readership in the United Kingdom and North America. His range included disturbing studies of the macabre, children's stories and historical fiction, most notably his "Herries" series, set in the Lake District.