Jonathan Harr is an American writer renowned for his meticulously researched nonfiction works. He gained widespread acclaim with his 1995 book "A Civil Action," a gripping account of an environmental lawsuit that was later adapted into a major motion picture starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall. The book earned a National Book Award nomination and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Harr further solidified his reputation with "The Lost Painting: The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece," a 2005 bestseller exploring the discovery of a long-lost Caravaggio artwork.
Born in Beloit, Wisconsin, Harr has built a career combining investigative journalism with narrative storytelling. He began as a staff writer at New England Monthly and contributed to prominent publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine. His works often delve into legal, artistic, and historical themes, characterized by immersive research and compelling prose. Harr resides in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he has taught nonfiction writing at Smith College.