
The Names: A Read with Jenna Pick
A Novel
Florence Knapp(Author)
Pamela Dorman Books (Publisher)
Published on 6. May 2025
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-593-83390-2 (ISBN)
Description
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND READ WITH JENNA PICK--A WORD-OF-MOUTH HIT THAT BEGS TO BE SHARED LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL
"Dazzling." --The Washington Post
"A magnificent novel." --Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life? In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, respected in the community but a controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and name the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates... Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of their lives, shaped by Cora's last-minute choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing. Through a prism of what-ifs, Florence Knapp invites us to consider the "one . . . precious life" we are given. Full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family and love's endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store. The book's brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Penguin Adult
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
494 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-593-83390-2 (9780593833902)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Florence Knapp has previously written a nonfiction book about a centuries-old method of quilt making, as well as contributing to a book for the Victoria and Albert Museum. She lives just outside London with her husband and their dog. Their two children have now flown the nest. The Names is Knapp's debut novel and will be translated into more than twenty languages.