Brian Moore (1921–1999) was a prolific novelist, screenwriter, reporter, and professor. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, he was raised in a large, devoutly Catholic family. His father was a surgeon and lecturer, and his mother had been a nurse. Moore left Ireland during World War II and in 1948 emigrated to Canada, where he worked for the Montreal Gazette, married his first wife, and began writing potboilers under various pen names throughout the 1950s.

His first book published under his own name was The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1955), which was initially rejected by a dozen publishers. This was the start of a successful literary career, and he went on to write nineteen subsequent novels in a broad range of styles, from realistic to historical to quasi-fantastic. Moore was recognized for his vivid depictions of life in Northern Ireland post-World War II, particularly for his examination of intercommunal divisions during the Northern Ireland conflict.

He has been described as "one of the few true masters of the contemporary novel." Moore's work earned him several accolades, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Governor General's Award, and the Sunday Express Book of the Year. He was also shortlisted three times for the Booker Prize.