Julian Hawthorne (1846-1934) was an American writer and journalist, the son of novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and Sophia Peabody. He wrote numerous short stories, mystery/detective fiction, essays, travel books, biographies and histories.

Absolute Evil is an extraordinary werewolf story. A young spinster goes on an adventurous summer vacation on a remote island which is rumoured to be haunted. The island is inhabited only by an old woman and a small child. Or so they think...but strange and sinister events, bizarre footprints on the beach and a strange howling at night suggest otherwise....