Barbara Trapido, born as Barbara Schuddeboom in 1941, is a distinguished British novelist.

She was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and grew up in Durban. Trapido has a rich cultural heritage with German, Danish, and Dutch ancestry. She pursued her education at the University of Natal, earning a BA in 1963 before moving to London.

After spending numerous years in the teaching profession, Barbara became a full-time writer in 1970. She has published seven novels, three of which have been nominated for the prestigious Whitbread Prize. Among these is her semi-autobiographical novel, Frankie & Stankie, which delves into the experience of growing up white under apartheid. This work garnered significant critical acclaim and was also longlisted for the Booker Prize.

Barbara Trapido currently resides in Oxford with her family, and some of her literary works have connections to this historic city.