David Foenkinos, born 28 October 1974 in Paris, is a French novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and director. He studied both literature and music in Paris. His novel La délicatesse is a bestseller in France, and a film based on the book was released in December 2011, starring Audrey Tautou. His works have been translated into over forty languages, and in 2014, he was awarded the Prix Renaudot for his novel Charlotte.

Growing up in a home with few books and often absent parents, Foenkinos read and wrote little during his childhood. At 16, he underwent emergency surgery due to a rare pleural infection and spent several months recuperating in the hospital. During this time, he began to explore literature, learning to paint and play the guitar.