Claire Heywood is a scholar of the ancient world, with a BA in Classical Civilisation and an MA in Ancient Visual and Material Culture from the University of Warwick. She lives in Bristol.

Her writing is inspired by her love of mythology, her knowledge of ancient cultures, and her fascination with women’s forgotten voices.

Her debut novel Daughters of Sparta (2021), a vivid and illuminating reimagining of the story of the Siege of Troy from the perspectives of the infamous Helen and her sister Klytemnestra, was a USA national bestseller. 

Her second novel, The Shadow of Perseus (2023), is a compelling feminist retelling of the myth of Perseus. Her latest novel, The Wandering Queen (published February 2026), brings the legendary Queen Dido vividly and powerfully to life. 

Claire's novels are published by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK, and by Dutton in the USA. They have been translated into fifteen languages. 

Claire Heywood is represented by Sara Keane.