Dan Brown

Dan Brown grew up in close proximity to the Phillips Exeter Academy, a college-preparatory school in New Hampshire where his father taught mathematics. Raised in the Episcopalian church, Brown has long been fascinated with the interplay between science and religion. After graduating from Amherst College in 1986, Brown moved to Hollywood and joined the National Academy of Songwriters, through which he met his wife, Blythe Newlon. Brown moved back to New Hampshire in 1993 and taught English at his alma mater, Phillips Exeter. Reading Sidney Sheldon’s novel The Doomsday Conspiracy (1991) inspired Brown to write thrillers. His first novel, Digital Fortress, was published in 1998, followed by Angels & Demons (2000) and Deception Point (2001). Not until The Da Vinci Code was released in 2003 did Brown gain significant fame. This fourth novel rose to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list and was adapted into a film starring Tom Hanks. In 2005, the author was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Despite its remarkable popularity, The Da Vinci Code sparked major controversies centered on its misleading representations of Christianity, history, and art. Since his rise to fame, Brown has written several more books featuring Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and set up scholarships at his various alma maters for students in need. Brown currently lives in New England.