Jean Auel is an international phenomenon. With the publication of the first novel in her Earth's Children sequence, Clan of the Cave Bear, in 1980, she achieved unprecedented critical and commercial success and this has continued to the present. Her extensive research has also earned her the respect of many renowned scientists, archaeologists and anthropologists around the globe, culminating in her being made an Officer of the Order of Arts & Letters by the French Minister of Culture and Communication in 2008.