Claim: The Pelican Brief is based on a novel by an American writer.
Evidence: The Pelican Brief is a 1993 American legal political thriller based on the novel of the same name by John Grisham.
John Ray Grisham , Jr. -LRB- -LSB- ˈɡrɪʃəm -RSB- born February 8 , 1955 -RRB- is an American bestselling writer , attorney , politician , and activist best known for his popular legal thrillers.