which author wrote the third man 12 letters, The author of “The Third Man” is Graham Greene. This book was originally written as a screenplay for the 1949 film of the same name, directed by Carol Reed and starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten. It’s a suspenseful thriller set in war-torn Vienna after World War II. The book was later released and has since made a lasting impression on readers and moviegoers around the world. Graham Greene was a versatile writer and is often regarded as one of the greatest British writers of the 20th century.