Goldsboro Books is thrilled to announce that THE NAMES by Florence Knapp has been named the winner of the 2026 Glass Bell Award, marking the tenth year of the prize.
Founded in 2017 by Goldsboro Books Managing Director David Headley, the Glass Bell Award celebrates exceptional storytelling across all genres of contemporary fiction. Unique in the UK literary landscape, the prize recognises novels that combine compelling storytelling, brilliant characterisation and a distinctive voice, championing books that leave a lasting impression on readers.
This year’s winning novel, THE NAMES (Phoenix Books, May 2025), is a powerful and inventive exploration of identity, family and fate, built around one deceptively simple question: can a name change the course of a life? Set against the aftermath of the Great Storm of 1987, the novel follows Cora as she faces a defining decision when registering the birth of her son. What follows are three possible versions of a life, each shaped by the name she chooses.
Chosen from a long list of twelve exceptional novels and a shortlist featuring ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid, BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan, DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor, THE RUSH by Beth Lewis and THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, THE NAMES stood out to the Goldsboro Books team for its originality, emotional depth and unforgettable storytelling.
Goldsboro Books Managing Director David Headley said:
“Choosing a winner is never easy, particularly when the standard of this year’s shortlist was so exceptionally high. But THE NAMES is one of those rare books that captures you from the very beginning and continues to unfold in your mind long after you have finished it. Florence Knapp has taken a brilliantly simple idea and transformed it into something deeply moving, ambitious and profoundly human.
“It is a beautifully crafted, unforgettable novel, and we are absolutely delighted to name Florence Knapp the winner of the 2026 Glass Bell Award.”
