May We Feed the King

First published 2026 · debut

Cover of May We Feed the King

Reception

Rave reviews. 6 of 9 critics gave a rave.

Rave 6 · Positive 3 · Mixed 0 · Pan 0

  1. 2026
    Literary Review

    Reviewed by Edward Bayliss, 1 September

  2. 2026
    The New York Times

    Reviewed by Lauren Elkin, 28 September

  3. 2026 Shortlist
Read the 2 reviews

All 9 reviews on Book Marks

About the book

Read the full description

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.

Description from Hardcover

About the author

Rebecca Perry, born 1986, United Kingdom.

Catalogue record

Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand · 272 pages

Publisher
Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand
Pages
272
ISBN
978-1-80351-386-7
Full recordClose
Publisher
Allen & Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand
Pages
272
ISBN
  • 978-1-80351-386-7
Author
Perry, Rebecca, 1986–
Statement
May We Feed the King / Rebecca Perry.
Records
Open Library Wikidata

Subjects

  • United Kingdom
  • 2020s

Catalogue data checked 3 October 2026