The Names
“Dervla Kirwan delivers a stunning performance of Knapp’s powerful novel…Her buttery voice creates a striking paradox—soothing and steady yet cut by the cruelty and sharpness of this story…Deeply affecting—to the point that it might be triggering for some—Kirwan’s stirring narration will linger in the mind long after it ends. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
AudioFile
A May 2025 LibraryReads Pick
A Today Show Read with Jenna Pick
A New York Times Bestseller
A People Pick of the Week
Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
An Amazon Best Books of the Year Pick
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, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she’d like to call the child, Cora hesitates.
Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora’s and her young son’s lives, shaped by her 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.
With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family, told through a prism of what-ifs, causing us to consider the “one ... precious life” we are given. The book’s brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional, gut-wrenching power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.
Praise