Patricia Highsmith, born Mary Patricia Plangman on January 19, 1921, was an American novelist and short story writer renowned for her psychological thrillers, including a series of five novels featuring the enigmatic character Tom Ripley. Her literary career spanned nearly five decades, during which she authored 22 novels and numerous short stories. Highsmith's work has been the basis for more than two dozen film adaptations. Her narratives often explored existentialist themes, probing into questions of identity and morality.

Highsmith's first novel, Strangers on a Train (1950), gained considerable attention and was adapted into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951. Another notable work, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955), has seen multiple film adaptations. Using the pseudonym Claire Morgan, she broke new ground with The Price of Salt (1952), a pioneering lesbian novel with a hopeful conclusion, which was later republished as Carol under her real name and adapted into a film in 2015.

Her early life was marked by a move from Fort Worth to New York in 1927 with her family, and despite a year spent with her grandmother in 1933, she returned to New York, attending public schools before graduating from Barnard College in 1942. Her short story 'The Heroine' was published in Harper's Bazaar magazine shortly after her graduation, earning notable acclaim.

Highsmith's writing has left an indelible mark on the genre of psychological thrillers, making her a significant figure in American literature. She was often referred to as "the poet of apprehension" by her peer, novelist Graham Greene, for her unique ability to evoke suspense and unease.