Diksia.com - Dan Brown is one of the most popular and successful authors of the 21st century. His novels have sold over 200 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 56 languages. He is best known for his Robert Langdon series, which features the Harvard professor of symbology and art history as he unravels mysteries and conspiracies involving ancient secrets, religious symbols, and cutting-edge science.
The Early Years
Dan Brown was born on June 22, 1964, in Exeter, New Hampshire. He grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy, where his father was a mathematics teacher and his mother was a church organist. He developed a fascination with the interplay between science and religion, as well as a love for puzzles and codes.
He graduated from Amherst College in 1986 with a degree in English and Spanish. He then moved to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career as a singer-songwriter and pianist. He also taught Spanish at Beverly Hills Preparatory School.
In 1993, he married Blythe Newlon, a former art historian and painter, who later became his editor and research assistant. They moved back to New Hampshire in 1996.
The Breakthrough
Brown’s first novel, Digital Fortress, was published in 1998. It was a techno-thriller about a cryptographer who tries to stop a rogue NSA agent from releasing a powerful code-breaking algorithm that could threaten national security. The novel received mixed reviews and modest sales.
His second novel, Angels & Demons, was published in 2000. It introduced the character of Robert Langdon, who is summoned to the Vatican to help stop a secret society called the Illuminati from destroying the city with an antimatter bomb. The novel was praised for its fast-paced plot and historical details, but criticized for its factual inaccuracies and implausible scenarios.
His third novel, Deception Point, was published in 2001. It was a political thriller about a NASA discovery of extraterrestrial life in the Arctic that turns out to be a hoax orchestrated by a powerful faction within the government. The novel was well-received by critics and readers, but did not achieve the same level of success as his later works.
The Phenomenon
Brown’s fourth novel, The Da Vinci Code, was published in 2003. It was a sequel to Angels & Demons, featuring Robert Langdon as he investigates the murder of a curator at the Louvre Museum, who leaves behind clues related to the Holy Grail and the bloodline of Jesus Christ. The novel sparked a global sensation, as it explored controversial themes such as the role of women in Christianity, the origins of the Bible, and the secrets of the Priory of Sion, a purported ancient society that guards the Grail.
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.
Brown has also contributed to various charitable causes, such as literacy, education, and music. He has donated millions of dollars to various organizations and institutions, such as the Ritman Library, the Smithsonian Institution, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center. He has also created a MasterClass on writing thrillers, where he shares his insights and tips on the craft and process of storytelling.
Brown is currently working on his eighth novel, which is expected to be another Robert Langdon adventure. He has also written a children’s book, Wild Symphony, which was published in 2020. It is a musical picture book that features a symphony of animals and a free app that plays original compositions by Brown himself.
Dan Brown is undoubtedly one of the most prolific and popular writers of our time. His novels have captivated and challenged us, and have left an indelible mark on the literary and cultural landscape. He is the master of thrillers, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next.
