Kristian Mandrup Elster (4 March 1841 – 11 April 1881) was a Norwegian novelist, journalist, literary critic and theatre critic, the father of Kristian Elster d.y.. He made his literary début with the historical drama Eystein Meyla, which was staged in 1863. Among his novels are Tora Trondal from 1879, and Farlige folk from 1881.