Matthew Kneale Standalone Novels books in order

Matthew Kneale's standalone novels span historical fiction and literary fiction, including the award-winning English Passengers.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Whore Banquets 1987 Matthew Kneale Buy
2 Inside Rose’s Kingdom 1989 Matthew Kneale Buy
3 Sweet Thames 1992 Matthew Kneale Buy
4 English Passengers 2000 Matthew Kneale Buy
5 Mr Foreigner 2002 Matthew Kneale Buy
6 When We Were Romans 2007 Matthew Kneale Buy
7 Pilgrims 2020 Matthew Kneale Buy

Matthew Kneale’s standalone novels cover a wide range of periods and settings, from Victorian London in Sweet Thames to contemporary Rome in Pilgrims. His debut, Whore Banquets (1987), marked the start of a career that would gain major recognition with English Passengers in 2000.

English Passengers remains his most celebrated work, telling the story of a Victorian voyage to Tasmania through the voices of over twenty narrators, including a Manx sea captain and an Aboriginal tracker. When We Were Romans (2007) showed a different side of Kneale’s range, telling a story through the eyes of a child whose mother flees England for Rome. His most recent novel, Pilgrims (2020), returns to his beloved Rome with intertwined stories of modern-day visitors to the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Matthew Kneale Standalone Novels series?

There are seven books in the Matthew Kneale Standalone Novels series, published between 1987 and 2020.

What is the first book in the Matthew Kneale Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Matthew Kneale Standalone Novels series is Whore Banquets, published in 1987.

Where should I start with Matthew Kneale's novels?

English Passengers is the best starting point. It won the Whitbread Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and it showcases Kneale’s talent for multi-perspective historical storytelling at its peak.

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