Charles Frazier is an American author best known for his novel Cold Mountain, which won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1997. Born on November 4, 1950, in Asheville, North Carolina, Frazier has a background in history and creative writing, earning degrees from Appalachian State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Frazier's writing often explores themes of love, loss, and the impact of the American Civil War. In addition to Cold Mountain, he has published several other novels, including Thirteen Moons and Nightwoods, which further showcase his talent for storytelling and deep connection to the Southern landscape.