Following his military service, Patterson earned a degree in sociology from the London School of Economics,

which led to teaching jobs at two English colleges. In 1959, while teaching at James Graham College,
Patterson began writing novels, including some under the alias James Graham. As his popularity grew,
Patterson left teaching to write full time. With the 1975 publication of the international blockbuster The
Eagle Has Landed, which was later made into a movie of the same name starring Michael Caine, Patterson
became a regular fixture on bestseller lists. His books draw heavily from history and include prominent
figuressuch as John Dillingerand often center around significant events from such conflicts as World
War II, the Korean War, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.