Poet and novelist Rebecca Perry reflects on the books and writers that have shaped her reading life, from childhood fairytales to Federico García Lorca, whose work profoundly affected her as a teenager. The interview also highlights her developing literary career, as her debut novel May We Feed the King has won the 2026 Waterstones debut fiction prize and been longlisted for the Booker prize.

Perry recalls being captivated by Spike Milligan and Scottish fairytales, particularly The Black Bull of Norroway, and says Frank O’Hara made poetry feel alive and accessible. She cites Percival Everett’s The Trees as giving her confidence to attempt a novel, names Anne Carson’s Glass and God as a frequent reread, and says she would not return to Harry Potter because of J K Rowling’s public positions.