James Albert Michener (February 3, 1907 – October 16, 1997) was an American writer renowned for his expansive multi-generational historical fiction sagas, often set in specific locales and interwoven with detailed historical context. Over his career, Michener authored more than 40 books, many of which became bestsellers and were selected by the Book of the Month Club.

His notable works include Tales of the South Pacific, which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948, Hawaii, The Drifters, Centennial, The Source, Chesapeake, Caribbean, Caravans, Alaska, Texas, Space, Poland, and The Bridges at Toko-ri. Michener’s books are celebrated for their meticulous research and his ability to vividly bring to life the settings of his stories.

Apart from his fiction, Michener’s non-fiction contributions include Iberia, detailing his travels in Spain and Portugal, and Presidential Lottery: The Reckless Gamble in Our Electoral System, a critique of the United States' Electoral College system. His first novel, Tales of the South Pacific, served as the basis for the popular Broadway musical South Pacific, by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and its subsequent adaptations into feature films, further cementing his legacy in American literature.

Michener also engaged actively in supporting the arts and education. He founded the Journey Prize, awarded annually for the year's best short story by an emerging Canadian writer, and an MFA program, now named the Michener Center for Writers, at the University of Texas at Austin. He made significant donations to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, known for its collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings.