Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) was a prominent modernist writer from New Zealand, known for her innovative and influential short stories. Born Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp, she spent much of her adult life in England and Europe, where she became part of the literary avant-garde. Mansfield's works are celebrated for their vivid psychological insight, delicate prose style, and attention to the complexities of everyday life.

Her writing often explored themes of identity, alienation, and the fleeting nature of happiness. Among her most famous works are short stories like "The Garden Party," "Bliss," and "The Daughters of the Late Colonel." She was a contemporary of writers like Virginia Woolf and D.H. Lawrence, and her contributions to modernist literature had a lasting impact despite her relatively short career. Mansfield died of tuberculosis at the age of 34.