Nellallitea "Nella" Larsen (first known as Nellie Walker) was an American novelist of the Harlem Renaissance. She was born on April 13, 1891, and passed away on March 30, 1964. In addition to being a novelist, she worked as a nurse and a librarian. Although her literary output was limited, she published two novels, Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929), along with a few short stories. Her work earned her recognition both from her contemporaries and from present-day critics.

Since the late 20th century, there has been a revival of interest in her writings, particularly with regard to themes of racial and sexual identity. Her works have become subjects of numerous academic studies, and she is now celebrated as "not only the premier novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, but also an important figure in American modernism."