Sarah Ann Waters is a Welsh novelist recognized for her distinctive literary voice in contemporary fiction. She is best known for her novels set in Victorian society that feature lesbian protagonists, establishing her as a significant voice in LGBTQ+ literature. Waters' debut novel Tipping the Velvet (1998) brought her initial recognition and was adapted into a BBC television mini-series in 2002. Her subsequent novel Fingersmith (2002) further cemented her reputation and was adapted into a BBC mini-series in 2005. Fingersmith also received international adaptation as the South Korean film The Handmaiden in 2016, demonstrating the broad appeal and adaptability of her work across different cultures and media.