Charlotte Higgins

Charlotte Higgins is the author of several acclaimed works of nonfiction. Her Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain, about Britain’s 400-year period under Roman rule, was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson (now Baillie Gifford) prize, among other awards, and has been adapted into a play by David Greig. Red Thread: On Mazes and Labyrinths, was serialised as a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and won the Arnold Bennett prize. Her most recent, Greek Myths: A New Retelling, with illustrations by Chris Ofili, was shortlisted for Waterstones book of the year.

Charlotte is the chief culture writer of the Guardian. She has a regular column on the op-ed pages; writes interviews and features for the arts pages; and contributes  to “long read” section. Since 2022, she has also been reporting regularly from Ukraine. In the spring of 2025, she was scholar-in-residence at INDEX (Institute for Documentation and Exchange) in Lviv, Ukraine, working on a new book about art and war.

In naming her one of 10 extraordinary women writers working today, novelist Elif Shafak wrote: “Charlotte Higgins is an author with magic in her pen. From ancient subjects she conjures living text: vast conversations about who we are today and why the stories we tell really matter.” 

Born in the Potteries, Charlotte is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a past winner of the Classical Association prize.