Imogen Hermes Gowar

Imogen Hermes Gowar studied Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History at the University of East Anglia before going on to work in museums. Her first novel, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock, is set in 1780s London and charts the fortunes of a merchant and a courtesan on the make: it won UEA’s Curtis Brown Prize, was a finalist for the Mslexia First Novel Award and the Deborah Rogers Prize, was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize For Fiction and The Sunday Times PFD Young Writer of the Year Award and longlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize and the HWA Debut Crown 2018. It won a Betty Trask Award. Imogen has also worked with UEA, Norfolk Museums Service and the public art organisation Mutiny to create an immersive augmented reality piece exploring the life of Lady Eleanor Talbot, Edward IV’s alleged secret bride. Eleanor (and the many versions of her created over centuries of retelling) is the subject of Imogen’s forthcoming second novel.