Walker Percy was an American writer, born on May 28, 1916, in Birmingham, and passed away on May 10, 1990, in Covington. He was deeply influenced by his southern upbringing and his philosophical inquiries into the human condition. Percy's narrative, rich with existential questions, is often set against the backdrop of New Orleans. His literary journey began after overcoming tuberculosis, a turning point that led him to abandon his medical career for writing. A significant influence on his work was his reading of Kierkegaard and Dostoyevsky during his recovery, which eventually led him to convert to Catholicism.

Awarded the National Book Award for Fiction for his first major novel, The Moviegoer (1961), Percy's oeuvre includes a total of nine books. Among these, notable works include Love in the Ruins: The Adventures of a Bad Catholic at a Time Near the End of the World (1971), The Second Coming (1980), and The Thanatos Syndrome (1987). Percy's contribution to literature also extends to his instrumental role in the publication of John Kennedy Toole's bestselling novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, which had been previously rejected by many publishers.

Throughout his life, Percy maintained a close friendship with author and historian Shelby Foote. He spent much of his life in Covington, Louisiana, where he succumbed to prostate cancer. Percy's legacy lies in his exploration of "the dislocation of man in the modern age," a theme that resonates through his poignant and deeply philosophical novels.