May We Feed the King cover art

May We Feed the King

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2026

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May We Feed the King

By: Rebecca Perry
Narrated by: Ian Dunnett Jr., Sarah Barron
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Summary

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2026
WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2026
AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVELIST 2026
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2026

She is a curator, who spends her time dressing the rooms of historic buildings to bring them to life. But in the lush private quarters of a medieval palace, she finds herself so transfixed by the reign of an almost-forgotten King that the edges of her life begin to blur.

He is a reluctant ruler with no hunger for power, rushed to the throne after the untimely deaths of his older brothers. But it isn't long before whispers begin to fly around the court. And with the growing belief that the King is not fit for the throne comes the idea that another might rule in his stead.

May We Feed the King dances between the lives of a historical subject who risks the future of his kingdom and a woman who turns to the past to hide from her present. Laced with desire and longing, it is a playful, stirring meditation on history and storytelling: on what makes a King 'Great', and a life meaningful.

©2026 SNR Audio Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Medieval Science Fiction Royalty
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Loved this, it is unusual but exquisite and will make future historic house visits at once more interesting but also sadly never quite up to the mark

Language poetic, very thought provoking

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I didn’t find this book engaging, I think this maybe better suited to reading than listening.
The language was beautiful, the narrators paced and melodic adding to the atmosphere.
I just couldn’t follow any threads.

I don’t think this translated well to audio

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Beautifully written and narrated. Such an original novel of how we see history now, and how it actually was. In a tiny time frame - I was gripped from start to finish. If only it was longer.

Original viewpoint of a time in history

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Beautifully read and written. Really does justice to the book. Hope it makes Booker short list

Magical lyricism

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An intriguing and compelling story that creates such vivid pictures in the imagination. I loved the fact you have no idea of the names, places and even genders of most of the very few key characters. Just the roles they play in the scene.

Fresh and interesting style

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