Evelyn Underhill was a British writer, poet, and novelist who lived from 1875 to 1941. Born in Wolverhampton, she became a prominent figure in Anglo-Catholicism, focusing her extensive literary output on religion and spiritual practice. She is particularly celebrated for her profound explorations of Christian mysticism, most notably in her 1911 book of the same name. Throughout her life, she served as a spiritual director and a pioneer for women within the Church of England, breaking new ground as a lecturer to clergy and a leader of spiritual retreats.