Menu

Writers Directory

This searchable database contains profiles of some of the UK and Commonwealth's most important writers. Each profile includes a biography, bibliography, critical reviews and information about awards.

Filters

Filter by genre:

Filter by project:

Filter by initial:

Writers directory

hegley.jpg
John Hegley

Performance poet John Hegley was born in 1953 in Newington Green, Islington. He grew up in Luton and...

Genres:

Zoe Heller c Jacques Brouchier NEW PLEASE USE web
Zoe Heller

Zoe Heller was born in London in 1965 and educated at Oxford University and Columbia University, New...

Genres:

Alexandra Heminsley resized
Alexandra Heminsley

Alexandra Heminsley worked in publishing for six years before becoming a freelance journalist, broad...

Genres:

Paul Henry
Paul Henry

Paul Henry is the author of six poetry collections and his work has been widely anthologised. A popu...

Genres:

hensherp.jpg
Dr Philip Hensher

Philip Hensher was born in London in 1965 and was educated at Oxford University. His doctoral thesis...

Genres:

Herbert Mark Husmann
W. N. Herbert

W. N. Herbert was born in 1961 in Dundee, Scotland and was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford. Hi...

Genres:

Imogen Hermes Gowar
Imogen Hermes Gowar

Imogen Hermes Gowar studied Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History at the University of East Angl...

Tania Hershman Photo c Lou Abercrombie
Tania Hershman

Tania Hershman is the author of two story collections: My Mother Was An Upright Piano: Fictions (Tan...

Genres:

Charlotte Higgins web
Charlotte Higgins

Charlotte Higgins was born in Stoke on Trent in 1972 and studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford...

Genres:

Hill photo Maisie Hill 2013 web
Selima Hill

Poet Selima Hill was born on 13 October 1945 in London, England and grew up in rural England and Wal...

Genres:

Hill Susan Credit Ben Graville
Susan Hill

Novelist, children's writer and playwright Susan (Elizabeth) Hill was born in Scarborough, England, ...

Genres:

Tobias Hill c John Foley web
Tobias Hill

Poet and novelist Tobias Hill was born in London, England, on 30 March 1970. He read English at Suss...

Genres:

Justin Hill Photo
Justin Hill

Justin Hill was born in the Bahamas in 1971, and moved to the family's native Yorkshire three years ...

Genres:

lauraHirdnew
Laura Hird

Laura Hird was born in 1966. She studied Contemporary Writing at Middlesex Polytechnic. In 1997 she ...

Genres:

Philip Hoare Author Photo c Andrew Sutton web
Philip Hoare

Philip Hoare was born Southampton, England, on 22 May 1958, and educated in Southampton and London, ...

Genres:

Michael Hofmann credit Ulla Montan
Michael Hofmann

Poet and translator Michael Hofmann was born in Freiburg, West Germany in 1957. The son of the Germa...

Genres:

Hollinghurst Alan Credit Robert Taylor
Alan Hollinghurst

Alan Hollinghurst was born in Stroud in Gloucestershire, England in 1954 and was educated at Magdale...

Genres:

Hollis+Matthew credit Claire McNamee
Matthew Hollis

Matthew Hollis was born in 1971 in Norwich, and studied at the universities of Edinburgh and York. H...

Genres:

richard holmes correction
Richard Holmes

Biographer Richard Holmes was born in London, England on 5 November 1945 and educated at Downside Sc...

Genres:

Rachel Holmes c Sarah Hickson web
Rachel Holmes

Rachel Holmes’ new book, Eleanor Marx: A Life was published by Bloomsbury in 2014, described by Gold...

Genres:

From Our Blog

Hay Festival 2022

The British Council is delighted to support a specially selected programme of events at the 2022 Hay Festival.

SHARJAH FOCUS: Which authors are coming to London Book Fair?

We reveal the authors who will be representing Sharjah at the Market Focus and London Book Fair 2022.

SHARJAH FOCUS: Public events

Celebrate Arabic Literature at this public event in London

SHARJAH FOCUS: London Book Fair events

If you're heading to The London Book Fair this month, join us at these Cultural Programme events

View all blog posts

Sign Up to the Newsletter

literature matters

We publish a Literature Newsletter when we have news and features on UK and international literature, plus opportunities for the industry to share. To subscribe to the newsletter, until further notice, please press the subscribe button. You may unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link in the newsletter. We will process your personal information based on your consent. British Council may use the information you provide for the purposes of research and service improvement, to ask for feedback in the form of questionnaires and surveys. We do this in our legitimate interest.



Data Protection

British Council complies with data protection law in the UK and laws in other countries that meet internationally accepted standards. You have the right to ask for a copy of the information we hold on you, and the right to ask us to correct any inaccuracies in that information. If you have concerns about how we have used your personal information, you also have the right to complain to a privacy regulator. For detailed information, please refer to the privacy section of our website or contact your local British Council office . We will keep your information for a period of 7 years from the time of collection.

Back to top
Visit our arts sites
British Council global

© 2025 British Council The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland).