James Aitcheson is a historical novelist, literary consultant and creative writing lecturer based in Nottingham. A professional writer since 2010, he received his PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Nottingham in 2021. His novels, which are all set in medieval England, have been published in the UK, the US, Germany and the Czech Republic.
He studied History at the University of Cambridge, where he developed his interest in the Middle Ages. His debut title, Sworn Sword, was published by Preface in 2011 and was followed by two sequels, The Splintered Kingdom (Preface, 2012) and Knights of the Hawk (Preface, 2013). His fourth novel, The Harrowing (Heron, 2016), was a Book of the Month in The Times.
James has taught on the BA and MA Creative Writing programmes at the University of Nottingham and at Sheffield Hallam University, where he is currently an Associate Lecturer. His academic research examines historical fiction: how it is constructed, its objectives, its responsibilities and its possible future directions.
As a literary consultant, James runs writing workshops, masterclasses and other events for clients including English Heritage and The British Academy, and provides editorial and mentoring services. He works with both emerging and established writers, specialising in historical fiction and in academic writing. He is a member of TLC’s Editorial Committee.
James has also written for the online editions of History Today and BBC History Magazine, the official Formula 1 website, and ESPN Cricinfo. In 2008 he was a finalist in the Bridgestone e-Reporter international motorsports journalism training programme. He has been shortlisted for Historic Photographer of the Year 2018 and for the Edinburgh True Flash Award 2025.
For TLC James reads Historical Fiction
