Ludlum's novels were often inspired by conspiracy theories, both historical and contemporary. The world in his writings is one where global corporations, shadowy military forces and government organizations all conspired to preserve (if it was evil) or undermine (if it was law-abiding) the status quo. Ludlum's novels typically feature one heroic man, or a small group of crusading individuals, in a struggle against powerful adversaries whose intentions and motivations are evil and who are capable of using political and economic mechanisms in frightening ways. Ludlum died of a heart attack on March 12, 2001, at his home in Naples, Florida, while recovering from severe burns caused by a mysterious fire which occurred on February 10, 2001. The Bourne movies, starring Matt Damon in the title role, have been commercially and critically successful (The Bourne Ultimatum won three Academy Awards in 2008), although the story lines depart significantly from the source material.ĭuring the 1970s, Ludlum lived in Leonia, New Jersey, where he spent hours each day writing at his home. Covert One: The Hades Factor, a book co-written with Gayle Lynds, was originally conceived as a mini-series the book evolved from a short treatment Ludlum wrote for NBC.
From that point of view, yes, I guess, I am theatrical."Many of Ludlum's novels have been made into films and mini-series, including The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant, The Apocalypse Watch, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. I think it's all suspense and what-happens-next. He once remarked: "I equate suspense and good theater in a very similar way. His theatrical experience may have contributed to his understanding of the energy, escapism and action that the public wanted in a novel. From 1960 to 1970, he managed and produced shows at the Playhouse on the Mall at Bergen Mall in Paramus, New Jersey.
In the 1950s, he produced shows at the Grant Lee theater in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Prior to becoming an author, he had been a United States Marine, a theatrical actor and producer. After becoming an author later in life, Ludlum would set his mystery novel The Matlock Paper at the fictitious Carlyle University in Connecticut, a thinly disguised Wesleyan. While at Wesleyan, Ludlum joined the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. He was educated at the Rectory School then Cheshire Academy and Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he earned a B.A. Ludlum was born in New York City, the son of Margaret (née Wadsworth) and George Hartford Ludlum.
Ludlum also published books under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd. They have been published in 33 languages and 40 countries. The number of copies of his books in print is estimated between 300 million and 500 million. They have predicted Bourne's every move, and are counting on his unwitting help in their plans to destroy America.Robert Ludlum (– March 12, 2001) was an American author of 27 thriller novels, best known as the creator of Jason Bourne from the original The Bourne Trilogy series. But Bourne doesn't realize that these men, Islamic supremacists, are leaders of an incredibly dangerous, technologically savvy group with ties from Africa, across the Middle East, and into Eastern Europe and Russia. Despite his hatred for CI, Bourne sets out to rescue his friend and finish the job: dismantling a terrorist network determined to build nuclear armaments by cutting off their source of money. His last lifeline to humanity, Bourne will not let Lindros go. A CI deputy director, Lindros was in Ethiopia tracking suspicious shipments of yellowcake uranium and atomic bomb weaponry. New York Times bestselling author Eric Van Lustbader bring another pulse-pounding Jason Bourne thriller as Bourne's last friend in the world goes missing and Bourne will do another to bring him home.Īlready devastated by loss, Bourne is shattered by a report that his last friend in the world, Martin Lindros has gone missing.