Anne Rice was a renowned American author, born as Howard Allen Frances O'Brien on October 4, 1941. She was particularly known for her Gothic and Christian fiction novels, which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Her work has had a significant impact on popular culture, and she remains one of the most widely read authors in modern history.
Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, provided a rich backdrop for many of Rice's most famous novels. She authored more than 30 books throughout her career, beginning with her debut novel, Interview with the Vampire, in 1976. The novel became a best-seller and was later adapted into a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Kirsten Dunst, and Antonio Banderas. In addition to The Vampire Chronicles, Rice penned several other successful supernatural series, including Mayfair Witches, Queen of the Damned, the Wolf Gift, and Ramses the Damned.
Under the pseudonyms Anne Rampling and A.N. Roquelaure, Rice also wrote erotic fiction, including the BDSM-themed Sleeping Beauty Trilogy and the erotic novels Exit to Eden and Belinda. Throughout her career, Rice's prevailing thematic focus remained on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Anne Rice passed away on December 11, 2021, due to complications from a stroke, leaving behind a vast and influential body of work.