Dan Brown

Dan Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American author known for his best-selling mystery novels. Born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Brown studied English at Amherst College. After working as a software engineer, he published his debut novel, "Digital Fortress," in 1998. Brown's breakthrough came with "The Da Vinci Code" (2003), a thriller that explored religious symbolism and secret societies. It became a global phenomenon, selling over 80 million copies worldwide and spawning a film adaptation. He followed up with "Angels & Demons" (2005), "The Lost Symbol" (2009), "Inferno" (2013), and "Origin" (2017). Brown's novels have received mixed critical reception. While praised for their suspenseful plots and historical research, they have also been criticized for their sensationalistic themes and simplistic writing style. Nonetheless, his books have consistently topped bestseller lists and garnered him numerous awards, including the British Book Awards' Thriller of the Year in 2006 and 2010.