John Sanford was born on 31st May, 1904. His first novel, The Water Wheel, was published in 1933. This was followed by The Old Man's Place (1935). This book led to a contract with Paramount Pictures. However, the only screenplay he wrote that was filmed was Honky Tonk (1941).

Sanford was a member of the American Communist Party and in 1951 he was ordered to appear before the House of Un-American Activities Committee. Sanford refused to name fellow members of the party.

Sanford and his screenwriter wife, Marguerite Roberts, were now blacklisted. Sanford returned to writing books. This included The Land That Touches Mine (1953), A View From This Wilderness (1977), To Feed Their Hopes: A book of American Women (1980), A Man Without Shoes (1982), and The Winters of that Country (1984). He also wrote a three volume autobiography Scenes From the Life of an American Jew and a memoir of his wife, A Palace of Silver.

John Sanford died on 6th March, 2003.