Ford Madox Ford, who was born as Ford Hermann Hueffer in Surrey, England on December 17, 1873, was an influential figure in early 20th-century English literature. He was the eldest of three children to Francis Hueffer, a German music critic for The Times, and Catherine Madox Brown, who was English.
Ford's mother was the daughter of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Ford Madox Brown, who had a significant impact on Ford's life and work. In fact, Ford later adopted his grandfather's name as his own middle name, and eventually changed his surname to Madox Ford. Ford's sister, Juliet Hueffer, was married to David Soskice and was the mother of Frank Soskice, while his brother, Oliver Madox Hueffer, was also a writer.
As an author, Ford Madox Ford was known for his prolific output, having written over 60 works, including novels, poems, criticism, travel essays, and reminiscences. Some of his most famous works include "The Good Soldier," "Parade's End," "The Rash Act," and "Ladies Whose Bright Eyes." Ford also collaborated with Joseph Conrad on several works, including "The Inheritors" and "Romance."
Ford lived in both France and the United States, and his experiences abroad influenced his writing. His journals, The English Review and The Transatlantic Review, were instrumental in the development of early 20th-century English literature. Ford died in 1939, leaving behind a legacy as a significant contributor to English literature.