[Content warning: Family violence]

Instant bestseller and “best debut novel in years” (The Sunday Times) starts in a literal and metaphorical storm.

While registering her son’s birth, Cora faces a decision that could change his life: what will she name him? Her options – Bear, Julian or Gordon – each come with their own legacies, expectations and risks. In The Names, novelist Florence Knapp tells a powerful story of darkness and hope through three vastly different versions of a boy’s life.

Explore the profound force of family with Florence, in conversation with ABC Radio National’s Claire Nichols (The Book Show).

This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. 

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