The author of "Hrafnkels saga" remains completely unidentified. The text does not name him; nor does any other extant source. He was, however, certainly an Icelander and probably lived near the area which serves as the setting for the saga's events. Sigurður Nordal thought it was written by a chieftain. Hermann Pálsson detected a tone of Christian catechism and was convinced it was the work of a cleric. Hermann Pálsson further reasoned that it was penned by the bishop written shortly before his death 1264, but other commentators have assessed his amassed evidence to be insufficient.