Lloyd C. Douglas was a notable American minister and author, born in Columbia City, Indiana on August 27, 1877. He moved frequently during his childhood, living in various places such as Wilmot and Monroeville in Indiana, as well as Florence, Kentucky. His father, Alexander Jackson Douglas, was a pastor at the Hopeful Lutheran Church, which exposed Douglas to pastoral work from a young age and prepared him for his future career.
Douglas is known for his moral and religious writings, and he became one of the most popular American authors of his time, despite not writing his first novel until the age of 50. His first novel, "Magnificent Obsession," was an instant success, and critics compared his type of fiction to the great religious writings of previous generations, such as "Ben-Hur" and "Quo Vadis." Douglas's novels were known for their moral, didactic, and religious tone, and they provided inspiration to many readers.
Douglas's career as a minister culminated in his final pastorate at St. James United Church in Montreal, where he served from the spring of 1929 to May 1933. He then resigned to focus solely on his writing career. Douglas's literary output can be divided into three periods. In the 1920s, he wrote professional books for ministers to use. In the 1930s, he shifted to theological novels, and in the 1940s, he wrote two of his most famous works, "The Robe," a historical novel, and "The Big Fisherman," an account of Simon and Christ. Throughout his career, Douglas aimed to provide inspiration and ethical guidance to his readers through his novels, recognizing that many individuals were hesitant to seek such guidance in more traditional religious contexts.