Katharine Sarah Macquoid (née Thomas) was a prolific British novelist and travel writer whose career spanned the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Born in January 1824, Macquoid established herself as a highly productive author, ultimately publishing more than sixty-five works over her lifetime. In addition to her full-length books, she was a frequent contributor to periodical literature, publishing numerous short stories in various magazines. Her professional writing career began in earnest in 1859, when her first short story was published in the periodical Welcome Guest.
Following her early magazine success, Macquoid transitioned to writing novels. Her debut novel, A Bad Beginning: a story of a French marriage, was published in 1862 and met with immediate success, launching her career as a novelist. Over the subsequent decades, she produced a steady stream of fiction and travel writing. Among her extensive bibliography, her 1871 novel Patty is recognized as perhaps her finest and most successful story. Macquoid remained an active figure in the British literary landscape until her death in June 1917.