S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
The Black Douglas
"The Black Douglas" by S. R. Crockett is a historical fantasy novel published in 1899. Set in fifteenth-century Scotland and France, it follows the powerful Earl of Douglas as he becomes entangled with a mysterious woman and the sinister Gilles de Retz. Blending history with supernatural elements including werewolves and dark sorcery, the story weaves romance, betrayal, and heroic rescue. This influential work notably inspired elements of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."