sir thomas henry hall caine ch kbe (14 may 1853 – 31 august 1931), usually known as 'hall caine', was a british writer. he was a novelist, dramatist, short story writer, poet and critic of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. caine wrote fifteen novels on subjects of adultery, divorce, domestic violence, illegitimacy, infanticide, religious bigotry and women's rights. his books sold in total about ten million copies. he was the most highly paid novelist of his day.