Irving Stone

Irving Stone (1903–1989) was an American writer known for biographical novels about major artists and historical figures. Born in San Francisco, California, he became widely read for *Lust for Life* (1934), a novel based on the life of Vincent van Gogh. He later wrote *The Agony and the Ecstasy* (1961), centered on Michelangelo and his work on the Sistine Chapel. Stone’s approach combined extensive research with narrative storytelling, helping bring cultural history to a broad audience. Over his career he produced numerous works of historical and biographical fiction and remained a prominent figure in popular literary biography.