This paper discusses the life and analyzes the success of the author Sidney Sheldon who was declared by the "Guinness Book
of World Records" in 1997, to be the most translated
author in the world. It looks at his life from his childhood in Chicago through his move to Hollywood at the age of 17, to becoming a writer for the movie industry, the theatre and eventually
television. It examines his inspirations and styles and reviews some of the novels he has written.