Mary Doria Russell (born August 19, 1950) is an American novelist. ^[1]

Russell, an award-winning and bestselling author, is celebrated for her meticulous research, elegant prose, and powerful storytelling. She has written seven acclaimed novels, including the science fiction classics The Sparrow and Children of God; the World War II thriller A Thread of Grace; and the 1921 Cairo–set political romance Dreamers of the Day. Russell earned her Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the University of Michigan and went on to teach anatomy at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Dentistry. She and her husband, Don Russell, have shared a long and happy marriage since 1970 and make their home in Cleveland, Ohio. ^[2]