About the Author

Irving Stone was born in San Francisco in 1903. He wrote several books in a genre that he coined the “biographical novel,” which recounted the lives of well-known historical figures. In these novels, Stone interspersed biography with fictional narrative on the psychology and private lives of his subjects. He also wrote biographies of Clarence Darrow and Earl Warren, and short biographies of men who lost presidential elections. He died in 1989.

Reviews

“An extraordinary book... and a great one... Written from the heart and without restraint, alive.”—The New York Times

"One cannot be too grateful for the publication of these letters... Of the deepest human interest."—Books

"A great book, the greatness of a man in his own words."—The Nation