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Writers Directory

This database was created to provide a snapshot of contemporary British Literature, offering unique critical perspectives of the work of some of the writers living and working in the UK today. Our website is currently under review and as a result we are not updating the database or adding new entries at this time.  Please check our blog pages for updates on our current Literature programmes. 

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Writers directory

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Edna O'Brien

Irish novelist and short-story writer Edna O'Brien was born on 15 December 1930 in Tuamgraney, Count...

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OBrienSean Moira Conway
Sean O'Brien

Poet Sean O'Brien was born in London, England, on 19 December 1952 and grew up in Hull.He was educat...

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Bernard ODonoghue credit James Connolly
Bernard O'Donoghue

Bernard O'Donoghue was born in Cullen, County Cork, in 1945, later moving to Manchester. He studied ...

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Maggie O'Farrell

Born in Northern Ireland in 1972, Maggie O'Farrell grew up in Wales and Scotland. She has worked as ...

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Andrew OHagan broaddaylight
Andrew O'Hagan

Andrew O'Hagan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1968 and read English at the University of Strathcly...

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Redmond O'Hanlon

Redmond O'Hanlon was born in Dorset and studied at Oxford University. From 1970-1974 he was a Member...

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Meredith Oakes

Meredith Oakes is a playwright and translator, and one of the Royal Court Theatre's new generation o...

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Ben Okri no credit needed
Ben Okri

Poet and novelist Ben Okri was born in 1959 in Minna, northern Nigeria, to an Igbo mother and Urhobo...

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Ondaatje Michael Credit Beowulf Sheehan
Michael Ondaatje

Michael Ondaatje was born in Sri Lanka on 12 September 1943. He moved to England in 1954, and in 196...

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Ormsby Patrick Duffy
Frank Ormsby

Frank Ormsby was born in 1947, in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and was educated ...

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Diriye Osman credit Tom Hensher
Diriye Osman

Diriye Osman was born in Somalia in 1983 and raised in Kenya and London. He is a short story writer,...

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Alice Oswald Kate Mount
Alice Oswald

Alice Oswald lives in Devon.  She trained as a classicist and was the recipient of an Eric Gregory A...

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Oyeyemi Helen New 2013 credit Piotr Cieplak 2
Helen Oyeyemi

Helen Oyeyemi is the author of five novels, including White is for Witching, which won a 2010 Somers...

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From Our Blog

London Book Fair 2024

The British Council Literature Team will be at London Book Fair, 12-14 March 2024. Find us at the International Welcome Point hosted by British Council, stand 2C120.

Beyond Literature Borders

We are delighted to announce a new pilot grant programme for international work from independent literature organisation Speaking Volumes, funded by the British Council.

Sub-Saharan Africa Publishing and Literature Sector Study

By Matt Beavers

The British Council wishes to engage a researcher to conduct in-depth research into the trade publishing and literature sectors in six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Celebrating Windrush 75 with Poetry

'Poems on the Underground' commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Windrush's arrival in Britain with a new set of six poems.

View all blog posts

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