Thomas Harris, born on April 11, 1940, in Jackson, Tennessee, is an American author best known for the creation of Hannibal Lecter. Harris began his career as a journalist, working for newspapers such as The Associated Press. His interest in crime and criminal psychology became evident in his early writings, setting the stage for his later success as a novelist. Harris gained widespread acclaim and recognition with the publication of his first novel, Black Sunday (1975). However, his second novel, Red Dragon, published in 1981, introduced the world to his most iconic character: Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Red Dragon marked the beginning of Harris's Hannibal Lecter book series, which would ultimately become his most enduring and influential work. The novel follows the gripping hunt for a serial killer known as the “Tooth Fairy” and introduces the readers to the psychiatrist and cannibalistic murderer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The novel was praised for the intricate psychological interplay between Lecter and the protagonist, FBI profiler Will Graham. The novel was adapted into a film by Michael Mann titled Manhunter, in which the incarcerated Lecter (rechristened Hannibal Lecktor) is played by Brian Cox.

The success of Red Dragon propelled Harris into the spotlight, and it was followed by his most famous work to date, The Silence of the Lambs, published in 1988.