Francis Marion Crawford (1854 – 1909) was an American writer noted for his many novels, especially those set in Italy, and for his classic weird and fantastic stories. The Screaming Skull is a paranormal object, a human skull which per legend speaks, screams, or otherwise haunts its environs. The Screaming Skull haunts the house in which it is closeted in a sealed hatbox. Among the most significant works Francis Marion Crawford: Man Overboard!, The Doll\'s Ghost, The Upper Berth, For the Blood Is the Life, The Screaming Skull, Ave Roma Immortalis, Khaled, A Tale of Arabia, Corleone: A Tale of Sicily, Fair Margaret: A Portrait, Mr. Isaacs, A Tale of Modern India, In the Palace of the King: A Love Story of Old Madrid, Marietta: A Maid of Venice, Casa Braccio, Ave Roma Immortalis, The Little City of Hope: A Christmas Story, Cecilia: A Story of Modern Rome, Paul Patoff, The Diva\'s Ruby, Arethusa and many more.