Faber acquires Ben Markovits’ new novel ‘Starting Out’, deepening ties with Booker Prize shortlistee

Faber has secured the rights to Starting Out, the forthcoming novel by Booker Prize-shortlisted author Ben Markovits, marking a significant continuation of their collaboration with one of Britain’s most introspective literary voices.

A New Chapter in Markovits’ Career

Publishing director Angus Cargill acquired UK, Commonwealth, and translation rights from Georgia Garrett at RCW. The novel is slated for release in 2027 and promises to extend Markovits’ reputation for psychological nuance and emotional realism. Starting Out follows Lisa, a shy, bookish only child navigating the social and emotional terrain of college life. Her encounter with an ambitious fellow student sets off a journey through questions of happiness, sacrifice, and personal agency.

The acquisition comes as Faber celebrates the success of Markovits’ current novel, The Rest of Our Lives, which is shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. That novel, a poignant road trip narrative about a middle-aged academic reckoning with personal and professional collapse, has drawn acclaim for its layered portrayal of masculinity, memory, and midlife rupture.

Faber’s Strategic Commitment

Faber’s decision to extend its relationship with Markovits signals a strategic investment in literary fiction that interrogates the complexities of modern identity. Cargill described Starting Out as a work that “anatomises a formative relationship from its outset with elegance and deep humanity”. The novel’s themes—emotional awakening, intellectual ambition, and the quiet assertion of self—align with Markovits’ signature style, which blends introspection with narrative restraint.

Booker Buzz and Beyond

With The Rest of Our Lives among the six titles shortlisted for the Booker Prize, anticipation is high ahead of the winner announcement on November 10. Faber is reportedly seeing strong rights interest in the novel, further cementing Markovits’ international appeal.

This dual momentum—critical acclaim for The Rest of Our Lives and the acquisition of Starting Out—positions Markovits as a defining voice in contemporary fiction. For readers drawn to stories of emotional complexity and the subtle architecture of human relationships, his next novel promises to be a compelling continuation.

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Jon Night

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