Jasper Fforde (born 11 January 1961) is an English novelist known for his unique blend of literary allusions, wordplay, and fantasy. His debut novel, The Eyre Affair, was published in 2001 and introduced readers to the world of Thursday Next, a literary detective in a parallel universe. This successful series is complemented by his Nursery Crime series, Shades of Grey series, and The Last Dragonslayer series, all of which showcase Fforde's talent for creating tightly scripted plots and playful narratives that often include elements of metafiction and parody.

Before becoming a full-time novelist, Fforde worked in the film industry for nineteen years, contributing to movies such as Goldeneye, The Mask of Zorro, and Entrapment. He began writing in 1988 and faced 76 rejections before The Eyre Affair was finally published by Hodder & Stoughton in July 2001.