The Da Vinci Code became one of the bestselling novels of all time, selling over 80 million copies and generating a huge amount of media attention, debate, and controversy. It also inspired a film adaptation in 2006, starring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon and directed by Ron Howard, which grossed over $750 million worldwide.
Brown’s fifth novel, The Lost Symbol, was published in 2009. It was another sequel to Angels & Demons, featuring Robert Langdon as he searches for a hidden pyramid and a lost word of power in Washington, D.C., while being pursued by a mysterious cult leader who claims to have the secrets of the Freemasons. The novel was a huge commercial success, selling over 30 million copies, but received mixed reviews from critics and fans, who found it less original and compelling than its predecessors.
Brown’s sixth novel, Inferno, was published in 2013. It was a continuation of the Robert Langdon series, featuring the professor as he wakes up in a hospital in Florence, Italy, with no memory of the past few days, and finds himself in a race against time to stop a madman from unleashing a deadly virus inspired by Dante’s Inferno. The novel was praised for its return to form, as it combined historical and literary references with a gripping and timely plot. It also spawned a film adaptation in 2016, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, which grossed over $220 million worldwide.
Brown’s seventh novel, Origin, was published in 2017. It was the latest installment of the Robert Langdon series, featuring the professor as he attends the unveiling of a revolutionary discovery by his former student and friend, Edmond Kirsch, a billionaire futurist and atheist, who claims to have found the answers to the two most fundamental questions of human existence: Where do we come from? Where are we going? The novel explored themes such as artificial intelligence, religion, and the origin of life, and was well-received by critics and readers, who appreciated its thought-provoking and suspenseful story.
The Legacy
Dan Brown is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful authors of the modern era. His novels have not only entertained millions of readers around the world, but also inspired them to learn more about history, art, science, and religion. His novels have also sparked countless debates and controversies, as well as lawsuits and criticisms, over their accuracy and implications.
