The Names

A once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent, The Names is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark.

It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.

Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image - but is there still a chance to break the mould?

Powerfully moving and 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.

Review

The Names is a beautiful, heartwrenching, utterly original novel - this one will stay with me for years to come -- Miranda Cowley Heller, author of THE PAPER PALACE

A sucker punch of a novel that I think will be one of the biggest books of the year -- Pandora Sykes

The Names is a truly gorgeous, heart-opening novel. I couldn't put it down, and I'm grateful to have Cora and her children living inside my heart now. What a wonderful book! -- Ann Napolitano, multi-million-copy bestselling author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL

I'm in AWE. Powerful, moving and beautiful, The Names takes an important subject and handles it perfectly -- Marian Keyes, author of GROWN UPS

Haunting and heartfelt; I couldn't look away from this emotionally charged story of fate, family and heart-shattering what ifs -- Claire Daverley, bestselling author of TALKING AT NIGHT

Magnificent. A stunning, hopeful, bitterly beautiful novel. The Names is a story of decisions, both grand and miniature, of how each is sewn into the tapestry of what makes us uniquely us. And how a single change can be our making and unravelling. Read it. It's very special -- Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK

Every so often a truly special book comes along, one that stays with you long after turning the last page. I raged, cheered and wept alongside Bear, Gordon and Julian. Compassionate, haunting and gripping, it urges you to reflect on the path not taken, the infinite small decisions and sacrifices that lead us to our own particular lives -- Elizabeth Macneal, author of THE DOLL FACTORY

Unlike anything I've ever read, The Names is wise and surprising and thrumming with life. A very, very special book -- Bobby Palmer, author of ISAAC AND THE EGG

This is exquisite storytelling with unforgettable characters and moved me deeply. Watch out for The Names. It's a big one -- Jennie Godfrey, author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

I read it in three greedy gulps . . . a story of a family broken by cruelty but healed by resilience, love and possibility -- Jo Browning Wroe, author of A TERRIBLE KINDNESS

The Names is a tour de force of storytelling. Knapp crafts a world where names are keys that can unlock the truth about who we are and who we can become. At once haunting and revelatory, The Names is a brilliant exploration of the choices-big and small-that define our lives. Each character is drawn with a complexity that lingers long after the last page. A truly mesmerizing and profound book that I'll never forget -- Alison Espach, author of THE WEDDING PEOPLE

About the Author

Florence Knapp has previously written a non-fiction book about a centuries-old method of quilt making, as well as contributing to a book for the V&A Museum. She lives just outside London with her husband and their dog. Their two children have now flown the nest. The Names is Florence's debut novel and will be published in more than thirty languages.