Herman Wouk was an American author renowned for his historical and fictional narratives. Born on May 27, 1915, he penned fifteen novels, many of which are historical fiction. His most celebrated work, The Caine Mutiny (1951), earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Wouk's other notable works include The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, both centered around World War II. He also wrote the bildungsroman Marjorie Morningstar, and the non-fiction work This Is My God, which provides insights into Judaism from a Modern Orthodox viewpoint. His writings have been translated into 27 languages.

Despite his fame, Wouk cherished his privacy and was often referred to by The Washington Post as "the reclusive dean of American historical novelists". In 1995, during a gathering at the Library of Congress to celebrate his 80th birthday, he was described as an "American Tolstoy" by historians, novelists, publishers, and critics.

Wouk was also an active member of the executive committee of the Writers and Artists for Peace in the Middle East, a pro-Israel organization. He lived a long life, passing away just shy of his 104th birthday on May 17, 2019.