[Dan Brown](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/dan-brown-teaches-writing-thrillers) is the author of numerous novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the bestselling novels of all time. Dan is the son of a mathematics teacher and a church organist. He was raised on a prep school campus—where his father taught—where he developed a fascination with the <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-paradox-in-writing-learn-about-the-differences-between-literary-paradox-and-logical-paradox-with-examples' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-paradox-in-writing-learn-about-the-differences-between-literary-paradox-and-logical-paradox-with-examples","linkCopy":"paradoxical","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>paradoxical</a> interplay between science and religion. These themes eventually formed the backdrop for his books. Dan is a graduate of Amherst College and Phillips Exeter Academy, where he later returned to teach English before focusing his attention full time to writing. Dan’s breakout novel The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003, and quickly rose to the top of the *New York Times* bestseller list. In 2005, Dan was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by *TIME* magazine, whose editors credited him with “keeping the publishing industry afloat; renewed interest in Leonardo da Vinci and early Christian history; and a growing membership in secret societies.” Three of Dan’s novels, *Angels & Demons* (2000), *The Da Vinci Code* (2003), and *Inferno* (2013), were all adapted into major motion pictures. Dan Brown is known for his action-packed stories that blend scientific and religious influence. Some of his most notable novels include: 1. __*Digital Fortress* (1998)__. Dan’s first novel follows protagonist Susan Fletcher, who is determined to solve the mystery of a dangerous computer program before it ruins peoples’ lives. It speaks to Dan’s interest in cryptology and code-cracking, both themes that many of his other works would center on. The story was inspired by an incident that occurred at Phillips Exeter Academy while Dan was a teacher. A student was interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service after making a joke about killing the president, which sparked some of Brown’s earliest interest in covert intelligence agencies. 2. __*Deception Point* (2001)__. This is another work of Brown’s that blends action with science, politics, and conspiracy theories. The book follows intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton when she is sent to the Arctic by NASA to investigate a meteorite. She discovers a conspiracy pointing to an unforgivable deception threatening not only her life but the rest of the country. 3. __*Angels & Demons* (2000)__. This novel marks the debut of one of Dan Brown’s most significant characters, Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbology professor who appears in many of Brown’s subsequent novels. The book follows Robert Langdon as he unravels the conspiracies of the Illuminati—a secret society and enemy of the Catholic Church—directed against the Vatican. In 2009, the book was made into a feature film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks. 4. __*The Da Vinci Code* (2003)__. *The Da Vinci Code*, the second installment of the Robert Langdon series, is one of the best-selling novels of all time, selling over 80 million copies around the world and landing at number one on the *New York Times* bestseller list during its first week of release. In this story, symbologist Robert teams up with French police cryptologist Sophie Neveu to decipher Da Vinci’s paintings and reveal a religious mystery—that Mary Magdalene and Jesus were married and had a child together. *The Da Vinci Code* was also made into a feature film, which grossed over 600 million dollars worldwide. 5. __*The Lost Symbol* (2009)__. This is the third novel in the Robert Langdon series, following the professor as he attempts to decode a series of puzzles associated with the freemasons, a secret society. Publisher Random House printed over five million copies in their first print run, making it one of the largest in history. Much like some of Brown’s prior novels, the publication of this book broke sales records, selling over one million copies on its first day of release. 6. __*Inferno* (2013)__. *Inferno* is the fourth installment of the Robert Langdon series. In the book, Robert is drawn into a high-level plot that focuses around Dante Alighieri’s *Divine Comedy*, one of the most significant works of Medieval literature. *Inferno* was also made into a movie in 2016, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks. 7. __*Origin* (2017)__. In the fifth installment of the Robert Langdon series, Robert investigating the mysterious assassination of a wealthy researcher who was exploring the origin of all human life. In the UK, this mystery sold 100,000 copies in its first five days of publication, making it the UK’s fastest-selling fiction work since Harper Lee’s *Go Set a Watchman* in 2015. 8. __*Wild Symphony* (2020)__. *Wild Symphony* is Dan Brown’s first children’s book. The picture book follows an orchestra of musically-inclined animals, led by Maestro Mouse. Readers can listen along to a series of songs composed by Dan that are accessible via a smartphone app. Become a better writer with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Dan Brown, Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, and more. Bestselling author Dan Brown is an influential fiction writer who has become well-known for writing thrilling novels.