Robert Littell is an American author renowned for his works in the spy novel genre. Born on January 8, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, he has spent a significant portion of his life residing in France.

Littell's novels frequently explore themes related to the CIA and the Cold War, earning him critical acclaim and commercial success in the literary world. Before embarking on his career as a novelist, he worked as a journalist for Newsweek during the Cold War era.

In addition to his literary pursuits, Littell is also known to be an amateur mountain climber. He is the father of the award-winning novelist Jonathan Littell.