Amanda Craig, born in 1959, is a British novelist, critic, and journalist who grew up in South Africa and Italy before settling in London. After studying English Literature at Cambridge and working briefly in advertising and as a cleaner, she pursued a career in journalism. For a decade, she served as the children's books critic for The Times and contributed as a features writer for The Sunday Times, earning accolades like Young Journalist of the Year. Her journalistic career also included work for publications such as The Observer, The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph.

Craig is recognized for her sequence of nine interconnected novels that examine contemporary British society, often focusing on minor characters from previous works. Her novels have been praised for their wit, social commentary, and exploration of themes like fairy tales and mental health, with some works touching on issues such as immigration and the impact of Brexit. She has also been a prominent children's fiction critic, championing authors like J.K. Rowling and Philip Pullman. Craig's engagement with literary issues extends to her advocacy for defamation law reform and her interest in the moral duty of writing contemporary fiction. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018.

Amanda Craig's novelistic output is characterized by a series of nine interconnected works that delve into the complexities of modern British society. While each novel can be appreciated independently, they share recurring characters and thematic threads, forming a cohesive sequence. Craig has been described as a "state-of-the-nation" novelist, often elevating minor characters from earlier books to become protagonists in subsequent narratives. Her writing is noted for its sharp wit, its indignation at societal failings, and its keen ear for dialogue, as well as an unflagging focus on the individual choices that shape identity and societal dynamics. She draws inspiration from fairy tales, as seen in novels like 'In a Dark Wood,' which explores the connection between fairy tales and manic depression, and 'Love in Idleness,' a modern retelling of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

A significant aspect of Craig's work is her commitment to addressing contemporary issues. Novels such as 'Hearts and Minds' tackle the lives of immigrants, both legal and illegal, within London. 'The Lie of the Land' is noted for its depiction of a London couple facing financial difficulties and relocating to Devon, a setting she compares to C.S. Lewis's Narnia. This novel was recognized as being "in the vanguard of the Brexit novel," offering a diagnosis of the national mood while also scrutinizing rural life. Craig has expressed a strong belief in the "moral duty" of writing contemporary fiction, aiming to capture the spirit of realism and strong plotting found in Victorian novels, but applied to current societal challenges. Her dedication to this cause is further evidenced by her campaigning for defamation law reform following her own publication struggles.

Beyond her fiction, Craig has established herself as a significant literary critic, particularly in the realm of children's literature. She was an early supporter of authors like J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, and Cressida Cowell, earning recognition as a "pioneering children’s fiction critic." Her critical engagement extends to judging prestigious awards, including the Whitbread Novel Award and the Booktrust Teen Book Award. Craig's outspokenness on literary matters also led to controversy when she was removed as a judge for the Mslexia Fiction & Memoir Competition after signing a letter condemning online abuse directed at J.K. Rowling. She has also delivered lectures for organizations like the Trollope Society and the Dorothy L. Sayers lecture series, underscoring her broader contributions to literary discourse.