There is no single voice that defines British writing now. The pleasure lies in its variety: sharply observed family stories, inventive speculative work, historical fiction and writing that resists an easy shelf. This is a starting point for further reading, rather than a definitive ranking.

Start with curiosity

Try a writer whose setting or form is unfamiliar to you. Read interviews alongside the work, then follow the books and authors they mention. Good reading lists lead outward.

Ten writers to explore

Their books differ widely in form and subject, which is exactly the point. Each name comes with one suggested place to start.

  • Bernardine Evaristo — Girl, Woman, Other
  • Ali Smith — Autumn
  • Zadie Smith — White Teeth
  • Kazuo Ishiguro — The Remains of the Day
  • Elif Shafak — The Island of Missing Trees
  • David Nicholls — One Day
  • Caryl Phillips — Crossing the River
  • Sarah Hall — Burntcoat
  • Jon McGregor — Reservoir 13
  • Caleb Azumah Nelson — Open Water

Read beyond the bestsellers

Independent bookshops, library displays and small press catalogues are excellent places to find newer voices. Ask a bookseller what has stayed with them this month. You may leave with a book you would never have searched for.