Leslie Poles Hartley (1895-1972) was an acclaimed English novelist and short story writer. He gained widespread recognition for his works, particularly the Eustace and Hilda trilogy (1944–1947) and The Go-Between (1953), the latter being adapted into a successful film in 1971. His novel The Hireling (1957) was also turned into a film in 1973, which won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Hartley began his writing journey at the tender age of 11 and later became a prolific fiction reviewer for publications such as the Spectator and Saturday Review. His career commenced with short stories, with Night Fears (1924) being his first published book. Despite starting with short stories, his first novel, The Shrimp and the Anemone, came out when he was 49.

Much of his work explores the intricacies of social codes, moral responsibility, and family relationships, often depicting passion as a path to disaster. Beyond writing, Hartley's personal life was filled with rowing, swimming, and traveling, especially to Venice which he frequently visited.