Dominic Selwood


Dominic Selwood is an English historian, journalist, author and barrister. He has written several works of history, historical fiction and historical thrillers, most notably The Sword of Moses. His background is in medieval history.

Early life and career

Selwood was born on 19 December 1970 in England, and grew up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in Cyprus and in Germany. He went to school at Edge Grove School and Winchester College, and studied law and French law at the University of Wales.
He was awarded a scholarship to the University of Poitiers, where a chance meeting in a local café with the publisher Anthony Blond led to a collaboration on Blond's Roman Emperors. His doctoral research on medieval religious and military life, specialising in the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitaller, the two leading military orders of the Crusades was undertaken as a member of New College, Oxford. While conducting his research, he won a research scholarship to the Sorbonne in the history of Byzantium and the Christian Near-East.
In 1997, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and he is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
He was called to the Bar in London by Lincoln's Inn, joined a set of barristers' chambers in the Inner Temple, and was a member of the Western Circuit. He is one of the founders of Arabesque Partners. In a 2014 interview he said that his work as a criminal barrister had been formative for writing thrillers.
Selwood says he is "obsessed with the weirder side of the past", and describes himself as a "deeply fuzzy and laissez-faire English Catholic". He has spoken at schools, universities, literary festivals and the British Museum.

Journalism and media

Newspapers and magazines

Selwood writes for the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper and is currently a resident history columnist, including the daily 'On this Day' column. His writing has been described as a "must read", "a fascinating change from the usual dusty history books", and "strident debunkery". He has also contributed to The Spectator, The Independent, CityAM, Prospect Magazine, and The Catholic Herald.

Television and radio

He appears regularly on television and radio as a historical commentator and adviser, and on discussion shows like the BBC's The Big Questions.

Works

Non-fiction

Novels