Penelope Lively (born March 17, 1933, in Cairo, Egypt) is a British author known for her novels, short stories, and children's books. She spent much of her early life in Egypt, where her father worked for the British government, before moving to England with her family in the mid-1940s. Lively’s experience of living between two cultures and her early exposure to history would later influence her writing, which often deals with themes of memory, time, and personal identity.

Lively’s literary career spans several decades, and she is best known for her exploration of the intersection between personal and historical memory. Her novel Moon Tiger (1987) won the Booker Prize and is widely considered her masterpiece. The novel tells the story of Claudia Hampton, a historian and writer, as she reflects on her life and the impact of her experiences, particularly during World War II. Lively’s other notable works include The Photograph (2003), How It All Began (2011), and The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader" (1952), a children’s book she wrote as part of her work for younger readers.

In addition to her novels, Lively has written extensively for children, including The House in Norham Gardens (1993), which reflects her fascination with the themes of memory and change. Her works are often praised for their subtle psychological insight, witty prose, and the ability to capture the complexity of human experience.