Erle Stanley Gardner

Erle Stanley Gardner (July 17, 1889–March 11, 1970) was an American author and lawyer whose Perry Mason stories made him one of the most widely read writers of legal detective fiction. The series follows Mason as he investigates complicated cases and defends clients in dramatic courtroom battles.

Gardner was remarkably prolific. Early in his career, he wrote for pulp magazines and set himself a goal of producing 1.2 million words a year. After World War II, he published nonfiction about travel, Western history, and forensic science, including accounts of journeys through Baja California and other parts of Mexico. He also helped establish the Court of Last Resort, an organization devoted to examining possible miscarriages of justice.