Herman Wouk (May 27, 1915 – May 17, 2019) was an American author and centenarian, renowned for his contributions to historical fiction. His most celebrated work, The Caine Mutiny (1951), earned him the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Wouk's literary repertoire spans major historical narratives about World War II, notably The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, as well as non-fiction works like This Is My God, an insightful exploration of Judaism from a Modern Orthodox perspective, intended for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers. His writings, which have been translated into 27 languages, secure his place as a pivotal figure in American literature. Despite his significant achievements, Wouk preferred to keep his personal life private, earning him the description of "the reclusive dean of American historical novelists" by The Washington Post. In 1995, his 80th birthday was celebrated at the Library of Congress, where historians, novelists, publishers, and critics likened him to an American Tolstoy.