Helen Carr

Best-selling Historian & Author

Helen Carr is an award nominated writer, historian specialising in medieval history and public history.
Author of the best-selling, The Red Prince: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, published in spring 2021 and listed in the Times and Sunday Times best books of 2021. The Red Prince was shortlisted for the prestigious 2022 Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography.
Co-author and editor of What is History, Now? (W&N): A follow up to What is History? (1961) by her great-grandfather, the historian, E.H Carr.
Helen’s next book, Sceptered Isle will be published by Hutchinson Heinemann (Penguin Random House) in Spring 2025.
Helen reviews non-fiction for the TLS, The Spectator, BBC, Unherd and The New Statesman. She hosts podcasts for Intelligence Squared and has previously worked on BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time as well as running a hit podcast for the HistoryHit Network.
Helen is a royal historian for Global News Canada and has broadcast for CNN, NBC, Sky and CityTV covering the British Royal Family.
Helen is an elected fellow of the Royal Historical Society and currently with Queen Mary University London.

‘In Shakespeare’s Richard II, John of Gaunt gives the “this scepter’d isle… this England” speech. This vivid history brings to life his princely ambitions and passion.’

'Helen Carr is one of the most exciting and talented young historians out there. She has a passion for medieval history which is infectious and is always energetic and engaging, whether on the printed page or the screen.'

'An absorbing…excellent biography'