Bernice Rubens (1923–2004) was a Welsh novelist known for her dark humor, psychological insight, and often unconventional storytelling. She was born in Cardiff into a Jewish family and originally trained as a teacher before turning to writing.

Rubens gained international recognition with her novel The Elected Member (1969), which won the Booker Prize. The novel explores themes of mental illness, family dynamics, and personal breakdown, reflecting her interest in the complexities of human behavior. She went on to write more than 20 novels, often blending realism with elements of satire and the surreal.

Her work frequently examines identity, morality, and the tensions within families and communities. Though sometimes controversial for its subject matter, Rubens is regarded as an important figure in postwar British literature, admired for her originality and bold narrative style.