Barry Hines was an English author, playwright and screenwriter. His novels and screenplays explore the political and economic struggles of working-class Northern England, particularly in his native West Riding/South Yorkshire.

He is best known for the novel A KESTREL FOR A KNAVE which he helped adapt for Ken Loach’s film KES. He collaborated with Loach on adaptations of his novels LOOKS AND SMILES and THE GAMEKEEPER, and the 1977 two-part television drama THE PRICE OF COAL.