James Albert Michener (February 3, 1907 – October 16, 1997) was a celebrated American writer known for his extensive and meticulously researched novels. Raised by a Quaker woman in Pennsylvania, Michener's experiences during World War II in the U.S. Navy greatly influenced his writing.

His first novel, Tales of the South Pacific, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948 and was adapted into the popular Broadway musical South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and later into feature films in 1958 and 2001.

Michener authored more than 40 books, many of which were epic family sagas set in distinct geographical locales, incorporating detailed historical contexts. Notable works include Hawaii, The Drifters, Centennial, The Source, The Fires of Spring, Chesapeake, Caribbean, Caravans, Alaska, Texas, Space, Poland, and The Bridges at Toko-ri.

His non-fiction works, such as Iberia and his memoir The World Is My Home, reflect his travels and personal experiences. He also critiqued the U.S. electoral system in his book Presidential Lottery: The Reckless Gamble in Our Electoral System.

Toward the end of his life, Michener contributed to the arts and education through the annual Journey Prize for emerging Canadian writers, the MFA program at the University of Texas at Austin, and the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

He resided in Austin, Texas, where he was the director of the Texas Center for Writers at the University of Texas.