Rebecca Perry has won the 2026 Waterstones debut fiction prize for her novel May We Feed the King, a delicious and dream-like tale that captivated booksellers. The award, voted for by Waterstones booksellers, recognizes the year's outstanding debut fiction across all genres. Perry, a London-based poet and author, receives £5,000 and a promise of ongoing commitment to her writing career.
A Poet's Debut Novel Shines
Perry's novel follows a present-day curator whose job is to dress rooms in historic houses. The protagonist becomes increasingly obsessed with a medieval king, whose own story about his reluctance to rule unfolds in parallel. Melissa Harrison, writing in The Guardian, called it a highly wrought puzzle-box of a book that deliberately wrongfoots the reader at every turn and richly rewards those who approach it with curiosity.
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Waterstones head of books Bea Carvalho praised Perry's crisp, cool prose. With a poet's eye for detail and a keen sense of humor, Perry grapples with the slippery nature of memory and the burden of power. Carvalho declared, Rebecca Perry is an author to be seriously excited about, and we can't wait to see what she does next.
Key Details About the Prize and Novel
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Prize | Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2026 |
| Prize Amount | £5,000 plus career commitment |
| Novel | May We Feed the King |
| Author | Rebecca Perry |
| Genre | Literary fiction with historical elements |
| Key Themes | Memory, power, loneliness, imagination, defiance |
Why This Debut Novel Stands Out
- Unique premise: A curator of historic house feasts becomes obsessed with a medieval king.
- Poetic prose: Perry's background as a poet brings crisp, cool language to the narrative.
- Critical acclaim: Praised for its puzzle-box structure and rewarding complexity.
- Bookseller choice: Voted for by Waterstones booksellers, ensuring reader appeal.
- Thematic depth: Explores historical fiction as a genre and how we narrate history.
About Rebecca Perry
Perry has published two poetry collections, Beauty/Beauty and Stone Fruit, alongside several pamphlets and a work of creative nonfiction, On Trampolining. Her poetry has been shortlisted for the TS Eliot prize, while her debut collection won the Michael Murphy memorial prize. Writing May We Feed the King, Perry wanted to explore historical fiction as a genre and how we narrate history, as well as the capacities of loneliness and imagination, and ultimately what happens when a person defies what is expected of them, refusing to step into the tyranny of expectation.
FAQ
What is the Waterstones debut fiction prize?
The Waterstones debut fiction prize is an annual award voted for by Waterstones booksellers, recognizing the year's outstanding work of debut fiction across all genres. The winner receives £5,000 and a promise of ongoing commitment to their writing career.
Who is Rebecca Perry?
Rebecca Perry is a London-based author and poet. She has published two poetry collections, Beauty/Beauty and Stone Fruit, and a work of creative nonfiction, On Trampolining. Her poetry has been shortlisted for the TS Eliot prize.
What is May We Feed the King about?
The novel follows a present-day curator who dresses rooms in historic houses. They become obsessed with a medieval king whose story about his reluctance to rule unfolds in parallel. It explores memory, power, loneliness, and defiance.
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