Patricia Highsmith was an American novelist known for her psychological crime thrillers. Her debut novel Strangers on a Train (1950) brought her international recognition, especially after its film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock in 1951. Highsmith's most famous character is Tom Ripley, an immoral, charming anti-hero who first appeared in The Talented Mr Ripley (1955). This novel won her the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière in 1957.
Patricia Highsmith was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and moved to New York with her family in 1927. After graduating from Barnard College in 1942, Highsmith began writing short stories, including "The Heroine," which won the O. Henry Award in 1946.
Her character, Tom Ripley, reappears in four sequels: Ripley Under Ground (1970), Ripley's Game (1974), The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980), and Ripley Under Water (1991). Highsmith's skill in creating morally ambiguous characters made her stand out in crime fiction. The Talented Mr Ripley was made into many films, including the 1999 version with Matt Damon, which was very successful.
Highsmith wrote about identity, morality and fear of existence. Kafka and Dostoevsky influenced her writing. Another notable work was The Price of Salt (1952), a groundbreaking lesbian novel later reissued as Carol in 1990. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara starred in the 2015 film Carol, based on the book. It was nominated for six Academy Awards.
In addition to her Ripley series and The Price of Salt, Highsmith wrote over 20 novels and numerous short stories. Her novel Deep Water, published in 1957, was acclaimed for its depiction of psychosis in suburban America and was filmed in 1981 and 2022. Highsmith's psychological insight and exploration of troubled characters made her one of the most unique voices in crime fiction.
Although she was more popular in Europe, especially France than in her native United States, Highsmith's legacy as a master of suspense fiction remains influential.
