Florence Knapp: The Names

Next date: Friday, 22 May 2026 | 06:00 PM to 06:55 PM

While registering her son’s birth, Cora faces a decision that could change his life: what will she name him? Her options – Bear, Julian or Gordon – each come with their own legacies, expectations and risks.

In The Names, novelist Florence Knapp tells a powerful story of darkness and hope through three vastly different versions of a boy’s life.

Explore the profound force of family with Florence, in conversation with ABC Radio National’s Claire Nichols (The Book Show).

Florence Knapp appears thanks to the support of The Salon.

Presented in partnership with ABC Radio National.

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Sydney Writers’ Festival is Australia’s largest celebration of books and ideas, bringing the world’s finest authors and esteemed thinkers together for insightful and exhilarating conversations and discussions.

This event is livestreamed direct from Sydney Writers Festival.

Read more about the Sydney Writers Festival.