John Grisham

John Grisham, born on February 8, 1955, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, is an American novelist, attorney, and former politician widely regarded as the master of the legal thriller. After earning his law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1981, he practiced law for nearly a decade and served as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Drawing on his courtroom experience, Grisham published his first novel, A Time to Kill, in 1989. His breakthrough came with The Firm (1991), which spent months on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a hit film starring Tom Cruise. He followed with a string of blockbusters, including The Pelican Brief (1992), The Client (1993), The Chamber (1995), The Rainmaker (1995), The Runaway Jury (1996), and The Partner (1997). Many of his novels have been made into successful films. Beyond adult thrillers, Grisham writes the Theodore Boone series for young readers and nonfiction such as The Innocent Man (2006). His books have sold over 300 million copies worldwide and been translated into dozens of languages, making him one of the best-selling authors of all time.