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Francis Spufford, born in 1964, is an English author and educator whose career has spanned both publishing and academia. He began his professional life in publishing, serving as a chief publisher's reader before transitioning to teaching creative writing. Spufford has held fellowships and professorships at various institutions, including Anglia Ruskin University and Goldsmiths, University of London. While initially focusing on non-fiction, he shifted towards fiction in 2010, publishing his debut novel, Golden Hill, in 2016. This novel garnered significant critical attention and numerous awards. Spufford has also contributed to literature through editing anthologies and writing an unauthorized novel set in C.S. Lewis's Narnia universe, which, though praised, has not been commercially published.

Beyond his literary career, Spufford's personal life reveals a significant evolution in his spiritual beliefs. Originally identifying as an atheist, he is now a practicing Christian. He is married to an Anglican priest, Jessica Martin, and they have two children. His involvement in the Church of England extended to serving on its General Synod for six years. Spufford studied English literature at Cambridge University and currently resides in Ely, Cambridgeshire. His literary output includes a range of non-fiction works, essays, and novels, reflecting his intellectual and spiritual journey.

Francis Spufford's professional journey began in the publishing industry, where he worked as a chief publisher's reader for Chatto & Windus from 1987 to 1990. This early experience provided a foundation for his later involvement in literature. He later moved into academia, serving as a Royal Literary Fund fellow at Anglia Ruskin University and currently holds a professorship in creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Spufford's writing career initially focused on non-fiction. However, around 2010, he began a notable shift towards fiction. This transition culminated in the publication of his first novel, Golden Hill, in 2016. The novel was met with considerable critical praise and secured several prestigious awards, including the Costa Book Award for First Novel, the Desmond Elliott Prize, and the Ondaatje Prize, marking a successful entry into the realm of fiction.

A significant aspect of Francis Spufford's personal narrative is his spiritual evolution. He has publicly stated that he was formerly an atheist but has since become a practicing Christian. This transformation informs some of his written work, particularly his non-fiction titles that engage with religious themes. His marriage to Jessica Martin, an Anglican priest, further integrates his spiritual life with his personal relationships. Spufford's commitment to his faith has also been demonstrated through his active participation in the Church of England, where he served as a lay representative on the General Synod for the Diocese of Ely from 2015 to 2021. This engagement reflects a deep personal connection to Christianity and its institutional structures.

Beyond his acclaimed novel Golden Hill, Francis Spufford has made other notable contributions to the literary landscape. He has edited three anthologies: The Chatto Book of Cabbages and Kings (1989), The Chatto Book of the Devil (1992), and The Antarctic (2008), showcasing his editorial range. An intriguing piece of his work is The Stone Table, an unauthorized novel set within the Narnia universe created by C. S. Lewis. This novel, positioned chronologically between The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, was self-published in limited quantities. It received praise from writer Adam Roberts for its skillful imitation of Lewis's style. Spufford's attempts to gain official permission from the C. S. Lewis estate for commercial publication were unsuccessful, leaving The Stone Table as a unique, privately circulated work.