Magda Szabó was a Hungarian novelist, and is considered one of Hungary's most prominent female writers. Born on October 5, 1917, in Debrecen, she was a Doctor of Philology who contributed extensively to literature by writing novels, dramas, essays, studies, memoirs, poetry, and children's literature. Magda Szabó is recognized as the most translated Hungarian author, with her works published in 42 countries and translated into over 30 languages.

Szabó studied at the University of Debrecen, graduating as a teacher of Latin and Hungarian. She initially worked as a teacher in a Calvinist all-girls school in Debrecen and Hódmezővásárhely. From 1945 to 1949, she served at the Ministry of Religion and Education. In 1947, she married the writer and translator Tibor Szobotka.

Her writing career began with poetry, and her first book, Bárány ("Lamb"), was published in 1947, followed by Vissza az emberig ("Back to the Human") in 1949. Although awarded the Baumgarten Prize in 1949, it was withdrawn for political reasons. Magda Szabó was also a founding member of the Digital Literary Academy, an online digital repository of Hungarian literature.