Anne Rice (born Howar Allen O'Brien on October 4, 1941) is a best-selling American author of gothic and religious-themed books. She is best known for her prevailing thematical focus on love, death, immortality, existentialism, and the human condition. She was married to poet Stan Rice for 41 years until his death in 2002. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history.