Edward Lucas White (1866-1934) was an American author and poet. Although he wrote a number of historical novels, he is best remembered for short stories based on his own nightmares. El Supremo novelizes the life of Dr. Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia y Velasco, the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain. He ran the country with no outside interference and little outside influence from 1814 to 1840, and was known for his "bewildering and peculiar" individuality.