What were the most challenging and enlightening aspects of writing your book?

I had never written historical fiction before and am not at all an expert on early medieval Europe, so the research task was enormous. I had to start with the most basic of basics about ninth-century Europe and medieval Christianity and build my knowledge until I could grapple with the specifics of Agnes’s world. Of course the research was also the most enlightening aspect and really an absolute joy.

In what ways do you think the narrator in Rapture might be an empowering figure for women and young girls?

Agnes struggles against being defined and constrained — by how others see her. This is enormously relevant still, and to all kinds of readers. Too many people still have the experience of someone looking at them and saying ‘You are not the right sort of person for this. This is not for you’ regardless of how qualified, passionate, smart, determined etc they are. Agnes’ story is one of shucking off societal programming and listening to the still, quiet voice that knows who she is and what she’s capable of.

How do you think literature helps to shape our understanding of ourselves and others?

I often think of James Baldwin thinking his pain is ‘unprecedented in the history of the world’ but then books taught him ‘that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.’  So it does that, it helps us feel less alone in our troubles. But I think literature can also make us more worldly, more curious and in doing so make us less self-obsessed, less concerned with our own troubles in the first place.

What was the most recent book you’ve read about women or girls that moved you?

I just read Cousins by Patricia Grace which follows three cousins from girlhood in the 1940s through to adulthood. It’s a generous and expansive novel that does interesting things with form and narrative perspective while remaining utterly compelling and very, very moving.