Florence Knapp on The Names // Book Club

‘She’s been given a life, but she has somehow failed to spend it.’ Her Majesty’s second Book Club pick of the summer season is the stunning debut novel from Florence Knapp, ‘The Names’. Florence was born in the North West of England and spent considerable periods of her childhood in Australia, where her creative talent blossomed. After attending Southampton University, she worked for many years extensively on quilting and patchwork, perfecting a careful attention to detail and artistry that would become glaringly evident in her writing. ‘The Names’ was published in 2025. Its originality, depth and beautifully crafted prose has garnered the book legions of fans as well as the coveted prize of Debut Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Thought-provoking, moving and full of compassion, ‘The Names’ is a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page, and sparks a mind-bending conversation about the power of the names, and the lives, that we inherit.