Karl Arthur Marlantes (born December 24, 1944) is an American author and Vietnam War veteran renowned for his deeply impactful works on warfare and the human spirit. Graduating from Yale University and later becoming a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, Marlantes also served as a Marine in Vietnam. His experiences have significantly influenced his writing, leading to a powerful exploration of the complexities of war and its aftermath.

Marlantes has penned three notable books: Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War (2010), What it is Like to go to War (2011), and Deep River (2019). Matterhorn, in particular, has received widespread acclaim, winning several awards including the William E. Colby Award given by the Pritzker Military Library, the Center For Fiction's Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, the 2011 Indies’ Choice Award for Adult Debut Book of the Year, and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s James Webb Award for Distinguished Fiction. Marlantes' distinguished military service is decorated with the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten air medals, accolades that underline both his bravery and the authenticity of his literary contributions.

He resides in rural Washington, continuing to write and share his profound insights into warfare, camaraderie, and the enduring human spirit.