Essie Fox

Essie Fox was raised in rural Herefordshire, on the borders between England and Wales.

After studying English Literature at Sheffield University - where she fell in love with the Victorian novels that would go on to inspire her writing - Essie moved to London and worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then a job in book publishing ... before a career in commercial illustration under the name of Sarah Bengry.

Always an avid reader, Essie is now writing Victorian gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the 2012 National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. This was followed by Elijah's Mermaid, and then The Goddess and the Thief. The Last Days of Leda Grey was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month.

A new novel, The Fascination, is coming out in June 2023. This story features the Victorian country fairgrounds, the glamour of the Drury Lane pantomimes, and an anatomy museum in London's Oxford Street.

Essie has been a guest on many UK radio stations, has lectured at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and at the National Gallery in London, as well as appearing at many literary festivals and events.