Matthew Pearl is an American novelist and educator, born on October 23, 1975. He is best known for his historical fiction, which often blends literary themes with elements of mystery and suspense. Pearl graduated from Harvard University, where he studied English and American literature.
He gained significant recognition with his debut novel, The Dante Club (2003), which explores the lives of a group of literary figures in 19th-century Boston as they work on the first American translation of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The book was well-received and established Pearl as a prominent voice in the genre of literary historical thrillers.
Pearl has since authored several other novels, including The Poe Shadow (2006), which centers around Edgar Allan Poe and a fictional investigation into his mysterious death; The Last Dickens (2009), which follows the final days of Charles Dickens; The Technologists (2012), set at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during its early years; and The Last Bookaneer (2015), which tells the story of literary pirates in the 19th century. His upcoming book, Save Our Souls, is set to be released in January 2025 and continues his exploration of narrative nonfiction following the critically acclaimed The Taking of Jemima Boone.
In addition to his fiction writing, Pearl is a co-founder of the digital magazine TrulyAdventurous and has contributed essays and articles to various publications, including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Slate, and The Atavist Magazine. His works have been translated into more than 30 languages and have appeared on international bestseller lists.
Matthew Pearl has received several accolades for his writing, including being named Best Author by Boston Magazine and winning the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction. He is often praised for his ability to reinvigorate historical genres with rich storytelling and meticulous research. He resides in Boston with his wife, author Tobey Pearl.
