So, you’re looking for a list of literary agents in the UK for historical fiction.
Why?
We’re guessing because you’ve written a historical fiction novel, which you believe has fantastic commercial potential and you want a literary agent to help you get a publishing deal with a book publisher.
Below we’ve featured 15 literary agents in the UK that have experience in representing authors who write historical fiction.
1. Felicity Blunt
Hailing from London, Felicity Blunt is an irreplaceable agent at Curtis Brown. After all, she has served in both its UK and US offices since arriving in 2005. Today, her client list includes acclaimed veteran authors and chart-topping debut novelists across literary fiction and mainstream fiction.
Felicity appreciates authorial originality and one-of-a-kind narratives across genres such as crime fiction, women’s fiction, and historical fiction. To her, great writers can make complex imaginary worlds feel real with each page. She represents Emilia Hart (Weyward) and Rachel Rhys (Island of Secrets, A Dangerous Crossing).
Interested writers can submit their queries to Felicity via email.
2. Veronique Baxter
Equipped with her law degree from Bristol University, Veronique Baxter set her sights on the publishing industry. Eight years after first stepping into David Higham Associates in London in 1999, she became its director. Now, Veronique is a master at managing any project whether it’s adult nonfiction or children’s fiction.
This agent is actively seeking a wide variety of adult fiction. Genres that Veronique likes include literary fiction, book club fiction, and speculative fiction. In addition, she is the agent behind historical fiction authors such as Jamila Gavin (The Blood Stone, Coram Boy) and Guinevere Glasfurd (The Words in My Hand, Privilege).
Are you eager to become the newest addition to her client list? If so, head to her agent page and submit your query.
3. Ciara Finan
The second agent on this list from Curtis Brown, the London-based Ciara Finan loves books that defy genre tropes and thematic expectations. She hopes to discover and represent writers whose identities and cultures deserve more exposure and representation in books.
The number of Ciara’s literary preferences continues to expand with each new read — and her interests range from upmarket fiction to popular nonfiction. In historical fiction, she looks for projects with ornate and detailed settings, so much so that they completely immerse the reader into a particular bygone era.
To learn about how you can send a query to Ciara, you can browse her profile and scroll down.
4. Lucy Irvine
Based in London, Lucy Irvine has been a literary agent at Peters Fraser + Dunlop since 2021. However, she started developing her client two years earlier than that. As for her educational background, she earned her master’s degree at University College London.
Lucy’s interests range from children’s literature to young adult fiction and adult fiction. In the YA market, her preferences include historical fiction, unconventional love stories, and any noteworthy genre fiction. William Goldsmith (The Bind) and Aneesa Marufu (Rebel of Fire and Flight) are historical fiction authors Lucy currently represents.
Head to the page for submission guidelines to know what you should prepare. Afterward, you can visit Lucy’s profile for her contact information.
5. Gemma Cooper
Although she’s situated in London at The Bent Agency, Gemma Cooper constantly works with authors and publishing companies around the world. After all, her career began in New York City. Plus, she was shuffling between Chicago and London before accepting the directorial role of the agency’s UK branch.
Gemma is one of the top literary agents for children’s literature. From humorous chapter books to YA romance novels, her preferred reads are all about entertaining young readers. Furthermore, Gemma is fond of middle-grade historical fiction, which is why she represents Robin Stevens (Arsenic for Tea, Jolly Foul Play).
Do you want to join her list? The first step is to read the submission instructions. Once you’re done, you should prepare your query and go to Gemma’s page for her contact information.
6. Samantha Brace
Samantha Brace finished university and got her first job opportunities in Canada. After taking a course in publishing, she applied to Peters Fraser + Dunlop in London, UK. While she is steadily growing her client list, Samantha also handles podcasting duties and has experience in relevant roles like editing and sales.
When she’s not on the lookout for foreboding and intense mystery and thriller fiction, Samantha seeks literary fiction and historical fiction. She also loves novels that combine spine-tingling family sagas and historical details. Some incredible storytellers on her list are Cathy Hayward (The Girl in the Maze) and Marianne Holmes (A Little Bird Told Me).
Samantha is open to new queries, which you can send online after browsing the submission instructions.
7. Juliet Mushens
Headquartered in London, Juliet Mushens from Mushens Entertainment is one of the most respected agents in the UK. Industry folks and media outlets have recognized her excellence over the years since she began agenting in the early 2010s. As unbelievable as it sounds, the Top 3 spots in the weekly UK bestseller lists were all held by her books on two different occasions.
Juliet seeks fiction writing that stirs the reader’s heart as much as it engages with their mind. Presently, she’s actively looking for genres such as sci-fi & fantasy, book club fiction, and historical fiction. On her impressive client list, you’ll find Jessie Burton (The House of Fortune, The Muse) and Mary Chamberlain (The Hidden, The Forgotten).
You can read more about Juliet’s current wishlist on her profile, which includes a link to the submissions page.
8. Viola Hayden
Viola Hayden was a successful editor for many years. However, she wanted a change of pace without leaving the publishing industry. And so in 2020, Viola started her work at Curtis Brown in London as a literary agent, developing her list one client at a time.
While Viola is a big fan of cerebral fiction in suspense and crime fiction, she wholeheartedly believes in the immersive and captivating prowess of historical fiction. As such, this agent represents novelists like Ruqaya Izzidien (The Watermelon Boys) and Kate Foster (The Maiden).
Interested authors can click on Viola’s profile and scroll down for her query submission requirements.
9. Adam Gauntlett
Adam Gauntlett is a graduate of King’s College and holds a master’s degree in literature. Currently based in London, he works at the esteemed Peters Fraser + Dunlop in London. In particular, Adam is a member of the Books Division as a literary agent.
History deeply fascinates Adam whether it is utilized in fiction or nonfiction. Aside from historical fiction, his preferences in fiction include crime novels and book club fiction. No matter the genre, Adam admires stories with unforgettable surprises and remarkable female characters. One of his clients is Sam Hurcom, author of the historical thriller A Shadow on the Lens.
Once you’ve seen the submission requirements for fiction, you can head to Adam’s profile for his contact details.
10. Sam Copeland
In 2016, Sam Copeland accepted the directorial position at the RCW Literary Agency after being at the company for a decade. His outstanding agenting earned him nominations for two consecutive years at the British Book Awards. Unsurprisingly, he was a renowned book dealer prior to becoming an agent in London.
This acclaimed agent represents similarly esteemed and successful authors of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. Sam has negotiated countless books that cater to fans of everything from genre fiction to literary fiction. For historical fiction, he relies on clients like Katherine Stansfield (The Magpie Tree, The Visitor) and David Barbaree (The Exiled, Deposed).
Authors are encouraged to send queries via email. You can learn more about the submission guidelines on the agency website as well.
11. Jemima Forrester
Located in London, Jemima Forrester reads a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction to expand her literary tastes and entertain more authors to be part of her list. She held a senior role as a commissioning editor at a publishing company before being a part of David Higham in 2016.
Her list includes authors of historical fiction such as Beth Lewis (Bitter Sun) and Rosie Hewlett (Medusa). Likewise, Jemima seeks women’s fiction, suspense, and literary fiction, among others. If you have a keen eye for pacing, plot, and character writing (especially with female characters), your work might just grab her attention.
Jemima is open to digital submissions, so simply check her agent page for the complete query guidelines.
12. Euan Thorneycroft
When he’s not conducting lectures at educational institutions and industry events about the publishing world, Euan Thorneycroft works hard at building his list. An agent at AM Heath in London, he is eager to help writers whether in publishing their first book or exploring new genres to attract a different segment of readers.
This top-tier agent represents best-selling and acclaimed authors in fiction and nonfiction. Euan is open to literary titles and genre fiction. No matter the genre, he seeks creativity and emotional resonance. At present, he handles authors of historical fiction such as Susanna Gregory (An Unholy Alliance, A Wicked Deed) and Robert Dinsdale (The Toymakers, Little Exiles).
Euan is excited to uncover the next big thing in the literary world. Go to the submissions section for the instructions and submission form.
13. Tanera Simons
Upon receiving her literature degree at Exeter University, Tanera Simons applied to Lovereading since she loves books. After working at the aforementioned brand known for literary recommendations, she joined a publishing company. Eventually, she found her way to the Darley Anderson Agency in London.
Tanera loves unforgettable characters and distinct storytelling whether in rom-coms or historical fiction. She wants historical novels that can attract general readers. Furthermore, she is particularly interested in romance novels and upmarket fiction that feature historical aspects but do not primarily focus on them.
Authors can go to the submissions page for her email address and a link to her literary wishlist.
14. Sabhbh Curran
A literary agent at Curtis Brown in London, Sabhbh Curran does not take her job for granted. She knows that not everyone gets the chance to discover budding authors and foster their professional growth. To add, Sabhbh will always ensure the quality of her clients’ manuscripts before they’re handed to editors.
Fiction and nonfiction alike are of great interest to Sabhbh. In particular, she is searching for well-written historical fiction. Sabhbh wants novels in the aforementioned genre to be emotionally gripping and filled with well-researched historical details.
As of writing, Sabhbh welcomes new queries. Visit her agent page for the submission instructions and contact information.
15. Jon Wood
Jon Wood became part of Orion Publishing in 2000. His career at this company would last for an amazing 19 years, after which he joined the RCW Literary Agency. With a list filled with chart-topping and notable authors, Jon was promoted to director within three years of entering the London-based agency.
Historical elements are in Jon’s interests whether in fiction or nonfiction. Furthermore, this agent loves compelling storytelling and ambitious concepts. Speaking of excellent writing, two authors of historical fiction on Jon’s list are A.J. MacKenzie (A Flight of Arrows, The Ballad of John MacLea) and Joanne Harris (Five Quarters of the Orange, The Gospel of Loki).
Prospective clients should check his Twitter account for updates about his unique submission window, which is currently closed.
Do you know of any other UK literary agents for historical fiction? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
A 22 year old writer from India, Meera Nair has been blogging for over 5 years. She has a triple major Bachelor’s degree in Media, English and Psychology from Christ University Bangalore. She regularly reviews books for publishers like Bloomsbury, Pan Macmillan, Penguin etc. Reading and writing are two of her utmost passions and she is glad to have the opportunity to share that love with others.