Dr Kate Wiles is a historical linguist and a historian of medieval
manuscripts. She is Senior Editor of History Today, the oldest history
magazine in the world, and an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Historical
Research, University of London.
Dr Wiles’ PhD in Medieval Studies, from the University of Leeds, was on the
languages of Anglo-Saxon scribes, after which she held a postdoctoral post at
the University of the Basque Country researching bilingualism in
Anglo-Saxon legal documents.
Kate Wiles was also the Historical Languages Consultant for the History
Channel/MGM drama Vikings, across all six seasons, translating scenes
into medieval languages and putting words into the mouths of actors such as
Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Her translations have been heard by more people than
these languages were when they were spoken. Kate also consults for Audible,
providing them with accurate pronunciation guides for medieval words.
Additionally, Kate Wiles has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking
as well as on other BBC Radio, Talk Radio and international radio programmes,
and The Allusionist podcast, and has taken part in various live
history-themed comedy shows. She has written for the Guardian, BBC
History Magazine, the New Statesman, Times Higher Education
and The Toast, as well as contributing regularly to History Today.
In 2019, Kate was a judge for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman History Prize.
Agent: Patrick Walsh
