Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin is a highly acclaimed Scottish author, best known for his crime fiction novels. Although his ultimate goal in life was not always to write crime fiction, he has become one of the most successful and respected authors in the genre. Rankin is particularly famous for his Inspector Rebus series, which is set in the city of Edinburgh.

Rankin was born in the Kingdom of Fife in 1960 and went on to study at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1982. He initially planned to pursue a PhD in Scottish Literature, but instead spent three years writing novels. His first Rebus novel was published in 1987, and the series has since been translated into 22 languages and has become a bestseller in several countries.

In addition to his success with the Rebus series, Rankin has won numerous literary awards and has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow. He has also received two Dagger Awards for the year's best short story and the Gold Dagger for Fiction. Rankin has been honored with honorary degrees from the universities of Abertay, St Andrews, and Edinburgh. He has also contributed to BBC2's Newsnight Review and presented his own TV series, Ian Rankin's Evil Thoughts, on Channel 4. In 2002. Rankin was awarded the OBE for services to literature, which he received in his home city of Edinburgh, where he currently lives with his partner and two sons.

Before becoming a successful author, Rankin worked a variety of jobs in his early twenties, including grape picking, taxman, and swineherd. He has often cited his diverse work experience as an inspiration for his writing, and it has certainly contributed to his ability to create such a wide range of compelling characters and storylines.