Christopher William Edgar Bigsby is a renowned British literary analyst and novelist, with a prolific career that includes authoring over sixty books. Known earlier in his writing career as C. W. E. Bigsby, he has made significant contributions to the field of American theatre, earning awards for his work on this subject as well as for his captivating biography of Arthur Miller. His literary prowess extends to fiction where his first novel, Hester, has been recognized for its excellence. Beyond his writing, Bigsby has received honorary degrees from Bolton University and the Complutense University of Madrid, marking his influence in academic circles.

Bigsby's academic journey began at Sutton County Grammar School and progressed through the University of Sheffield, where he completed his BA and MA, and the University of Nottingham for his PhD. His academic career took flight at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, followed by a distinguished tenure at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, where he eventually rose to Professor of American Studies, a position he held until 2018 before becoming an emeritus professor.

His engagement with the British Council as chair of their Cambridge Seminar for eighteen years stands testament to his commitment to fostering international literary dialogue. Bigsby's voice has also been prominent on BBC Radio, where he has presented numerous programmes. His collaboration with Malcolm Bradbury yielded television scripts and a significant editorial role in the Contemporary Writers series for Methuen.

Bigsby's scholarship encompasses a broad spectrum, ranging from studies on African-American writers to in-depth analyses of American theatre. His works on Arthur Miller, such as Arthur Miller & Company and The Cambridge Companion to Arthur Miller, are particularly noteworthy, as is his serialized biography of Miller, a project born out of a lengthy personal friendship with the playwright. In exploring the themes of memory and the Holocaust, Bigsby's Remembering and Imagining the Holocaust: The Chain of Memory presents a profound meditation on memory's role in literature.

As the founder director of the Arthur Miller Centre (now Institute) for American Studies at UEA, Bigsby has been an instrumental figure in promoting American studies in the UK. His efforts in presenting the UEA's International Literary Festival for twenty-eight years and the publication of the "Writers in Conversation" series have further established his status as a key figure in contemporary literary discourse.