Lucy Steeds
Lucy Steeds | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lucy Steeds 1995 (age 30–31) |
| Alma mater | |
| Years active | 2024–present |
Lucy Steeds (born 1995)[1] is an English writer. Her debut historical fiction novel The Artist (2025) won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and Waterstones Book of the Year.
Early life
Steeds grew up in London.[2] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English literature from Jesus College, Oxford in 2015[3] and then completed a Master of Arts (MA) in World literatures.[4] She is a graduate of the Faber Academy and the London Library's Emerging Writers programme.[5]
Career
In 2024,[6] John Murray Press acquired the rights to publish Steeds' debut historical fiction novel The Artist in 2025. Set in 1920s Provence,[7] the "psychodrama" follows three characters: English aspiring journalist Joseph Adelaide, the artist Édouard Tartuffe, and Tartuffe's niece Ettie.[8][9][10] Steeds had been inspired her time living in France and her love of art history. The Artist won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and was named one of the best historical fiction books of 2025 by The Sunday Times.[11] It was also shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction. It was chosen as the 2025 Waterstones Book of the Year. the judges describing it as "a novel which you don’t just read – you experience it with all your senses".[12][13]
Personal life
Steeds splits her time between Amsterdam and London. She has also lived in Paris and Singapore.[14]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Women's Prize for Fiction | The Artist | Longlisted | [15] | |
| Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize | Won | [16] | |||
| Waterstones Book of the Year | Won | [13] | |||
| Barnes & Noble Discover Prize | Finalist | [17] | |||
| Barnes & Noble Book of the Year | Finalist | [18] | |||
| 2026 | Walter Scott Prize | Longlisted | [19] | ||
| British Book Awards Book of the Year - Debut Ficiton | Shortlisted | [20] | |||
References
- ^ "Lucy Steeds". Albert Bonniers Förlag. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ Allfree, Claire (22 January 2025). "Lucy Steeds: Meet the year's most lauded debut novelist – who secured a six-figure deal". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ "Alumna Lucy Steeds wins Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize". Jesus College, Oxford. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Canagasuriam, Danielle (25 July 2025). "Lucy Steeds wins 2025 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for 'luminous, seductive tale'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Emerging Writers Participants 2019". The London Library. 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Spanoudi, Melina (5 February 2024). "John Murray Press pre-empts Lucy Steeds' 'gorgeously immersive novel about art'". The Bookseller. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Feeny, Madeline (8 November 2024). "Debuts of 2025, Volume 1: Lucy Steeds". The Bookseller. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Kent, Christobel (11 January 2025). "The Artist by Lucy Steeds review – mystery and romance in Provence". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ Conlon, Philippa (1 March 2025). "The Artist by Lucy Steeds: A hopeful exploration of what an artist can do". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ Kazmaz, Zeynep (16 May 2025). "Book Review: The Artist, Lucy Steeds". nb. Magazine. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ Senior, Antonia; Rennison, Nick (1 September 2025). "The best historical fiction books of 2025". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "Waterstones Book of the Year 2025". www.waterstones.com. Waterstones. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ a b Creamer, Ella (27 November 2025). "The Artist by Lucy Steeds wins Waterstones book of the year". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ Varney, Clare (11 April 2025). ""I love cycling in the evening sunshine when it is still warm"". Dutch News. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "In conversation with Lucy Steeds". Women's Prize. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Bharadia, Priya (24 July 2025). "'A novel to be swept away by': Lucy Steeds wins Waterstones debut fiction prize for The Artist". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Braca, Nina (2025-09-17). "Discover Prize Finalists 2025". B&N Reads. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ Polkowska, Margarita (2025-10-24). "2025 Book of the Year Finalists". B&N Reads. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- ^ "Lucashenko's "Edenglassie" on Walter Scott Prize longlist". Books+Publishing. 2026-02-12. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
- ^ "The British Book Awards 2026 Book of the Year shortlists revealed". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2026-03-18.