Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams was a British author, screenwriter and humorist, best known for his smash hit series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Adams grew up in London and studied English Literature at Cambridge University, where he also wrote scripts for his college’s drama society. After obtaining his Master’s degree, he moved to London to pursue a career as a writer for radio and television. In 1978-80, he wrote and edited scripts for the television series Doctor Who at the BBC.

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Biography

Adams’s comic masterpiece The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy started as a 12-part radio series that aired between 1978 and 1980; it was followed by a series of five books that have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. His other works include satirical detective novels Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (1987) and The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (1988). He also co-wrote The Meaning of Liff with John Lloyd (1983) and Last Chance to See with Mark Carwardine (1990).

Adams died of a heart attack in 2001, aged only 49. He remains one of the most popular, widely read humorists of our time.