Books by Francesca Kay
“I’d advise readers to sit with this book, sit and breathe, as we might sit and breathe with a Book of Hours. The story is tense and full-bodied – you want to know what happens. At the same time, with the skill of a weaver, Francesca Kay depicts the passing seasons, both natural and liturgical, without fanfare but with much beauty. Drawn into the little rural community, the reader also witnesses the building of a chantry, that is, a chapel endowed by the founder to pray for his or her soul, or the souls of others ‘in perpetuum.’ The poignancy of building a chantry in the religiously perilous sixteenth century!” Read more...
The Best Historical Fiction of 2025
Katharine Grant, Historical Novelist
Interviews where books by Francesca Kay were recommended
The Best Historical Fiction of 2025, recommended by Katharine Grant
Every year, the judges of the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction highlight the very best new books published in that genre over the past twelve months. In 2025, the six book shortlist features historical novels set as widely apart as ancient Sicily, 16th-century England, and 20th century Holland. Here, judge Katharine Grant talks us through their selection.
