Charles Major was an American novelist best known for historical romances and adventure stories, including When Knighthood Was in Flower and The Bears of Blue River. His fiction moves between the courts of European rulers and the woods of his native Indiana. Romance, danger, and dramatic choices give his stories their popular appeal.

Born in Indianapolis, Major studied at the University of Michigan and trained for the law. He practiced in Indiana before literary success allowed him to devote more time to writing. He initially published When Knighthood Was in Flower under the name Edwin Caskoden, creating a romantic story set in the world of Henry VIII's court.

Major followed that success with other historical novels, including Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall and Yolanda: A Maid of Burgundy. His books for younger readers drew more directly on American frontier settings, especially the woodland adventures of The Bears of Blue River. Several of his romances reached new audiences through theatrical and film adaptations, extending the appeal of a career built around lively, accessible storytelling.