UK Historical fiction Literary Agents

Fantasy, sf, horror, crime, thriller, historical fiction, urban fantasy, space opera

Wants: Plot-driven fantasy and sf (not tolkien-derivative); monsters/magic; also hybrids incl horror/thriller/crime/historical

Plot-driven narratives where a character faces a problem and the story is driven by forward momentum. Considers all kinds of fantasy and SF but not Tolkien derivatives; likes cool monsters, heavy magic, and magic seeping into contemporary life. Will read urban fantasy but only at the highest quality. Open to space opera, horror, thrillers, crime, historical fiction, and combinations thereof. Not interested in political treatise disguised as fiction, overly whimsical writing, or failed comedy.

Email berlyne@zenoagency.com following the agency's submission guidelines. Currently closed to submissions.

Fiction and non-fiction

Fiction: literary, upmarket commercial, book club, historical, crime, thrillers (no sci-fi/fantasy/children's). Non-fiction: serious/pop science, psychology, feminism, big ideas/current affairs, health/body/mind, personal development, selective lifestyle, narrative/memoir

Email submissions@hardmanswainson.com. Name your chosen agent in the cover email. For fiction, attach a one-page synopsis and the full manuscript. For non-fiction, attach a proposal and a sample chapter, or the whole work if complete. Submit to one agent only.

Adult fiction, select children's or ya and non-fiction

Upmarket commercial/book club and accessible literary, female-lens storytelling, historical with hook, romcoms, unusual structures, thrillers/crime with point of difference, select children's/YA crime/thrillers and MG adventure

Email - sohoagencysubmissions@gmail.com

Middle grade fiction, ya fiction, adult fiction, non-fiction

Atmospheric, emotionally intense, relationship-led fiction, romance/romantasy, select thrillers/crime, historical with strong relationships, big-idea accessible non-fiction at intersection of science/society, not picture books/poetry/original screenplays

Submit via Query Manager through the 'Submit Your Work' link at https://solasliterary.co.uk or submissions. Include a one-sentence elevator pitch capturing the book's central hook, the first five chapters, and a synopsis of 1–2 pages outlining the full plot including the ending.

Fiction and non-fiction

Story-driven fiction: historical fiction, suspense and crime, contemporary women's fiction, genre and book club fiction. Big-hearted love stories, unputdownable suspense, crime series with returning characters, and immersive historical fiction. Non-fiction: experts in their field, commentators, creators with platforms, and memoir.

Viola Hayden is currently closed to new submissions as of January 2026 and will reopen in January 2027. When open, submissions should be emailed to viola.hayden@curtisbrown.co.uk. Include your query letter in the body of the email, a synopsis or proposal as an attached Word document, and your first 10,000 words as an attached Word document.

Commercial fiction, romance, rom-com, historical fiction, book club fiction, romantic fantasy

Commercial fiction across a wide range of genres, including rom-com, love stories, historical fiction, book club, romantic fantasy, and female-driven narratives with a darker edge. Looking for clear hooks, stand-out memorable characters, and stories readers invest in.

Online form - https://airtable.com or embed or appsPGIWpsujYaPta or pagyOsqhGT1gQbS14 or form

Commercial fiction, contemporary fiction, reading group fiction, historical fiction, saga, police procedural, crime, thriller, psychological suspense, narrative non-fiction, cookery, health and wellbeing, parenting, nature, travel

Fiction across contemporary (funny/romantic/moving/high-concept), reading group, historical, saga, police procedural/crime/thriller/psychological suspense, character-led storytelling (incl unreliable narrators). Non-fiction: cookery, health/wellbeing, parenting, nature, travel, female focus, narrative non-fiction with humour and poignance

Submit via the online form at https://amheath.com or submissions — include a covering letter (max 500 words), a synopsis (max 1,500 words), and the first 10,000 words of your manuscript. Rebecca is currently on maternity leave, submit to a colleague instead. Email submissions@amheath.com only if another agent has requested the full manuscript, you have received an offer of representation, you have not heard back within 6 weeks, or you are submitting a cookery proposal or illustrated children's book.

Historical fiction, crime, thrillers, book club fiction, science fiction, fantasy, children's

Historical fiction, crime/thrillers, book club, science fiction and fantasy (actively building list)

Email julieacrisp@gmail.com. The contact page also hosts a form and notes responses within one week.

Fiction and non-fiction

Smart compelling commercial-to-literary, upmarket crime/thrillers, voiced historical, light horror/gothic/supernatural, memoir, narrative non-fiction, health/wellbeing/lifestyle from experts

Email julia@greyhoundliterary.co.uk

Fiction and non-fiction

Upmarket-commercial fiction, series crime/thrillers, historical fiction, high-concept fiction, narrative non-fiction, true crime, memoir, popular science/psychology, serious history

Email agauntlett@pfd.co.uk with a cover letter, full synopsis, and first three chapters (approximately 50 pages). Non-fiction submissions should include a detailed proposal and a cover letter with CV.

Fiction and non-fiction, children's

Adult: literary fiction, commercial women's, psychological suspense, gothic thrillers, ghost stories, historical including alternate histories, creeping-horror edge (not high fantasy). Children's: 7+/MG/YA, originality/depth, underrepresented voices welcome

Email submissions@nurnberg.co.uk

Literary fiction, commercial women's fiction, contemporary fiction, family drama, historical fiction, crime fiction, thrillers, suspense, magical realism, speculative fiction, sff, horror, gothic fiction, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction

Susan Armstrong seeks strong prose, compelling storytelling, vivid characters, and originality of vision. She welcomes novels that blend genres, feature unusual settings or circumstances, contain unexpected twists, possess some darkness, and present moral dilemmas. Books that evoke laughter are particularly appreciated.

Send all submissions to susan.submissions@cwagency.co.uk.