Edmund Morris is a renowned author, best known for his biographies of prominent American presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Born in Kenya, Morris received his early education in his native country before attending Rhodes University in South Africa. After working as an advertising copywriter in London, he emigrated to the United States in 1968.
Morris's literary career took off with his biography "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," which won him both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1980. His exceptional writing and research skills were further demonstrated in the second volume of his Roosevelt trilogy, "Theodore Rex." After spending 14 years as President Reagan's authorized biographer, Morris published the national bestseller "Dutch: A Memoir of Ronald Reagan" in 1999.
In addition to his presidential biographies, Morris wrote extensively on travel and the arts for various publications such as The New Yorker, the New York Times, and Harper's Magazine. His work in these areas showcased his versatility and broad range of interests. Morris lived in New York City and Kent, Connecticut, with his wife and fellow biographer, Sylvia Jukes Morris. He passed away on May 24, 2019, at the age of 78, after suffering a stroke in Kent.