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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

Julie Myerson
Julie Myerson

The novelist Julie Myerson was born in Nottingham in 1960. She read English at Bristol University an...

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Daljit Nagra credit Sarah Lee
Daljit Nagra

Daljit Nagra was born and brought up in West London and Sheffield. He lives in London, and works as ...

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Phyllis Nagy
Phyllis Nagy

Playwright, screenwriter and director Phyllis Nagy was born in New York City and has lived in London...

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Beverley Naidoo

Beverley Naidoo was born into a white, middle-class family in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1943. Sh...

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Molly press landscape 2015
Molly Naylor

Molly Naylor is the creator of the solo show, Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think Of You, a coming-of-ag...

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Patrick Neate

Patrick Neate is a respected novelist, critic, scriptwriter and poet. His work has been published in...

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Anthony Neilson
Anthony Neilson

Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson's plays include Normal, first staged at the Pleasance Theatre in...

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Patrick Ness by Helen Giles
Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness was born in the US in 1971, living in the western states of Hawaii, Washington and Cali...

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Neville Stuart Credit Philip ONeill Photography
Stuart Neville

Stuart Neville is the author of two mystery novels. The first novel, The Twelve (2009), is set in No...

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Courttia Newland

Courttia Newland was born in 1973 to parents of Caribbean heritage. In 1997, he published his first ...

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David Nicholls
David Nicholls

David Nicholls was born in 1966 and studied English Literature and Drama at the University of Bristo...

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Nichols Mike Park
Grace Nichols

Grace Nichols was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1950 and grew up in a small country village on the ...

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Lawrence Norfolk by Jonathan Ring
Lawrence Norfolk

Lawrence Norfolk was born in London in 1963. He read English at King’s College, London, graduating i...

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Philip Norman

Philip Norman was born in London in 1943 and grew up on the Isle of Wight. He is a biographer, novel...

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Claire North photo credit Siobhan Watts edit
Claire North

Claire North is the pen name of Carnegie-nominated author Catherine Webb, who also writes under the ...

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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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From Our Blog

Hay Festival 2024

As part of our global partnership with the Hay Festival, the British Council is supporting a specially selected series of events featuring international and UK authors at the Hay Festival in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, from 26 May – 1 June 2024.

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.

View all blog posts

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