The Names - Florence Knapp

The Names by Florence Knapp is a profoundly emotional and thought-provoking novel that examines how a single decision can alter the course of an entire life.

After a devastating storm, Cora takes her nine-year-old daughter Maia to register her newborn son’s birth. Her husband Gordon, a respected doctor but a domineering figure at home, expects the baby to be named after him. Yet, in a moment of hesitation at the registrar’s desk, Cora makes a choice that will change everything.

From that pivotal instant, the story unfolds across three alternate timelines, each shaped by the name Cora gives her son. Over the span of thirty-five years, The Names traces the ripples of that choice—through love and loss, control and freedom, and the painful but transformative journey toward self-determination.

Knapp’s lush, lyrical prose captures both the beauty and brutality of family life, exploring how small acts of courage can reclaim identity and autonomy in the face of oppression.

Main Themes of the Book

• Choice and consequence: how a single decision defines a lifetime.
• Motherhood and resilience: the strength required to protect and nurture amidst adversity.
• Domestic abuse and recovery: the long shadow of control and the path to freedom.
• Identity and destiny: the power of names to shape who we become.

Why You Should Read This Book by Florence Knapp

• A stunning exploration of family, trauma, and transformation.
• An ingeniously structured narrative blending realism and emotional depth.
• Written in beautiful, evocative prose that lingers long after the final page.
• Ideal for readers of Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, and Celeste Ng.

With The Names, Florence Knapp delivers a novel of rare emotional clarity and literary brilliance. Through its intertwined narratives, it reveals how even the smallest act of defiance can echo across generations. Heart-wrenching yet ultimately hopeful, this is a story about reclaiming power, identity, and love in all its imperfect forms.