Fran Levstik (28 September 1831 – 16 November 1887) was a Slovene writer, political activist, playwright and critic.

Among his most known works are the short tale Martin Krpan From Vrh (Slovene: Martin Krpan z Vrha),[citation needed] which became a classic work of Slovene literature, and the itinerary A Journey from Litija to Čatež (Popotovanje iz Litije do Čateža),[citation needed] the main objective of which is a literary manifesto.

In the critical essay Napake slovenskega pisanja, he exposed his views on the development of the Slovene literary language.

Levstik was one of the main exponents of the Young Slovenes, a progressive and radical political group akin to the Young Czechs in the Czech Lands that challenged the then prevailing influence of conservatives, led by Janez Bleiweis, within the Slovenian National Movement.

[2] He died of Bright's disease (nephritis)[3] in Ljubljana after a period of serious mental illness, which included delusions of a religious nature.