May We Feed the King cover art

May We Feed the King

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2026

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

May We Feed the King

By: Rebecca Perry
Narrated by: Ian Dunnett Jr., Sarah Barron
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £12.39

Buy Now for £12.39

Season's Savings | £0.99/mo for 3 months

£5.99/mo after 3 months - terms apply. Cancel monthly

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2026
WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE
AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVELIST 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 Rebecca Perry (P)2026 SNR Audio Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Medieval Science Fiction Royalty
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed the book. It was different from anything I'd read before. Both tge past and the present parts of the story were well constructed.

Great historical imagery

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I liked the different narrative voices and viewpoints that shaped the narrative. It should be Booker shortlisted.

Interesting perspective of history

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautifully read and written. Really does justice to the book. Hope it makes Booker short list

Magical lyricism

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews