Charlie English is a London-based non-fiction writer, the author of three internationally acclaimed books: The Gallery of Miracles and Madness (2021), The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu (2018) and The Snow Tourist (2009). His book The CIA Book Club was published in 2025. Formerly he was Head of International News at Guardian News and Media.
He has appeared on NPR, the BBC and Channel 4, written for numerous newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Independent, and given talks at Hay, Jaipur and the Royal Geographical Society, where he is a fellow.
He is running a project to support the Mohamed Tahar manuscript library in Timbuktu through this Patreon page.
Last but far from least, he is training his border collie, Enzo, to work with sheep, which may be his most difficult task yet. You can follow Enzo and Charlie’s sheepdog adventures on Instagram via @Sheepdog_in_the_C1ty.
Books in order of publication:
The Snow Tourist (2009)
The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu (2018)
The Gallery of Miracles and Madness (2021)
The CIA Book Club (2025)
Oak Lawn Library Friends 