Michael Amherst’s Debut Novel Made It to New Yorker’s List of Best Books of the Year
Michael Amherst is a British author whose debut novel, The Boyhood of Cain, was recognized as one of the best of 2025 by The New Yorker. He began writing in childhood but faced challenges, including periods of disconnection from writing. His novel is inspired by themes of selfhood and relationships, influenced by authors like J.M. Coetzee and Steinbeck. Amherst's writing process is exploratory, often discovering the narrative while creating. He emphasizes the importance of experience in shaping creativity, values discipline alongside freedom in routine, and finds that his writing evolves within tools like Ulysses. Post-publication, he has gained opportunities and connections in the literary world and is currently working on a new novel.




