Margaret Gatty was an English author and naturalist best known for Parables from Nature, a series of stories that draws moral and religious lessons from the living world. Her writing combines close observation with imaginative conversation, allowing animals and plants to become participants in questions about patience, understanding, and responsibility. She also contributed substantially to the study of seaweeds.

Alongside her literary work, Gatty developed a serious interest in marine life and corresponded with fellow naturalists. Her British Sea-Weeds brought scientific description and illustration together for readers interested in coastal collecting. This commitment to careful study gives her nature writing a distinctive foundation, even when her stories move beyond observation into allegory and Christian teaching.

Gatty edited Aunt Judy's Magazine, a children's periodical that helped connect her family and other contributors with a young readership. Her books range from domestic tales to reflections on sundials, revealing an appetite for subjects where everyday objects open into larger ideas. Today, Parables from Nature remains her most recognizable work, preserving the combination of storytelling, natural history, and moral inquiry that shaped her career.