Earl Derr Biggers (1884–1933) was born in Warren, Ohio, and educated at Harvard University, graduating in 1907. He began his career as a journalist and playwright before turning to mystery fiction. As a writer, he created one of the most enduring and beloved detectives in literary history—Charlie Chan.
The inspiration for Chan came to Biggers during a trip to Hawaii in the early 1920s. He encountered newspaper stories about a real Honolulu police detective named Chang Apana, whose bravery and resourcefulness captured his imagination.
