He focuses on writing non-fiction books and essays, mostly about the Swedish Empire and other historical events.

Englund is known for his accessible writing style, which includes narrative details that are often left out in traditional history books.

From 2009 to 2015, Englund served as the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, before being succeeded by Sara Danius.

He was then conscripted and served 15 months in the Swedish Army at the Norrbotten Regiment located in Boden.

During his period as a doctoral student, he had also worked for some time for the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service ("MUST"), and the year before receiving his doctorate he had published the bestselling Poltava, a detailed description of the Battle of Poltava, where the troops of Swedish king Charles XII were defeated by the Russian army of Tsar Peter I in 1709.