"A triple-spoked exploration of the power of a name"
This novel is a triple-spoked narrative exploring parallel realities born from a single, quietly radical choice: the name a mother registers for her newborn son.
Trapped in an abusive marriage, Cora fears that choosing her violent husband’s name, Gordon, might set her child on a path toward becoming like his father. Instead, she wavers between her own gentler alternative, Julian, and her nine-year-old daughter’s tender, hopeful suggestion: Bear. From this moment, the novel splits into three distinct storylines, each unfolding according to the name bestowed. Knapp plays deftly with nomenclature; every character’s name subtly reflects their personality, their trajectory, or their function within the story, reinforcing the idea that names carry both weight and possibility. The depictions of abuse are harrowing yet handled with care, particularly in their exploration of why so many abused spouses remain. Equally resonant is Knapp’s portrayal of those on the periphery, well-meaning outsiders who offer sympathy or advice but ultimately continue with their own lives, rarely fully stepping in.
The book closes with a quietly beautiful twist that underscores its central theme: the infinite possibilities contained within a single choice, and the many lives that might unfold from it.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Other Genres: |
Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become.
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 emerges. 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.
The Names features in the following genres: Family Drama, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Domestic abuse, Violence and abuse in society
The Names is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Names was written by Florence Knapp and published by Phoenix an imprint of Orion
The Names has 352 pages
