Picture a British storyteller who spun the eerie lore of the Pendle witches into a literary sensation—meet Stacey Halls! Born in 1989 in Lancashire, this historical fiction maven has captivated readers with her vivid tales that blend fact and fiction. From her debut novel to her latest bestseller, Halls brings the past to life with a feminist flair and atmospheric prose that keeps you glued to the page.
The Making of Stacey Halls
Growing up in Rossendale, Lancashire, as the daughter of market traders, Stacey Halls was steeped in the haunting tales of the Pendle witches. Her fascination with local history sparked early, fueling her imagination. After studying journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, she honed her craft at publications like The Guardian and The Bookseller. Her leap into fiction came after an unsuccessful contemporary novel, leading her to channel her love for history into The Familiars, a breakout hit that marked her as a rising star.
Stacey Halls’s Unforgettable Stories
Halls’s novels are masterclasses in gothic historical fiction, weaving suspense, strong female protagonists, and meticulously researched settings. Her debut, The Familiars (2019), dives into the 1612 Pendle witch trials, following Fleetwood Shuttleworth, a pregnant noblewoman entangled in accusations of witchcraft. It became the bestselling debut hardback of 2019 and won a Betty Trask Award. The Foundling (2020), set in Georgian London’s Foundling Hospital, explores motherhood and class with a gripping tale of a widow and a nursemaid. Mrs England (2021) tackles coercive control in an Edwardian marriage, set against the moody Yorkshire moors, earning the 2022 Women’s Prize Futures Award. Her latest, The Household (2024), draws on Charles Dickens’s Urania Cottage, a refuge for ‘fallen’ women, blending Dickensian drama with feminist themes.
Halls’s style is immersive, with a knack for evoking time and place—think fog-laden moors and creaking Georgian townhouses. Her focus on women’s lives, often marginalized in history, resonates deeply, making her stories both thrilling and thought-provoking.
Why Stacey Halls Matters
Stacey Halls has carved a niche in historical fiction by amplifying women’s voices from the past. Her novels don’t just entertain; they shine a light on forgotten corners of history, from witch trials to Victorian refuges. With six Sunday Times bestsellers and a growing fanbase, she’s been hailed as ‘the new Hilary Mantel’ by Cosmopolitan. Her establishment of the Stacey Halls bursary for working-class northern writers underscores her commitment to nurturing new voices, cementing her legacy as both storyteller and advocate.
About Stacey Halls
- Born: August 1989, Rossendale, Lancashire
- Key Works: The Familiars, The Foundling, Mrs England, The Household
- Awards: Betty Trask Award (2020), Women’s Prize Futures Award (2022)
- Fun Fact: Her novels are inspired by real historical events and places!
Snag The Familiars or The Household and dive into Stacey Halls’s spellbinding world of gothic historical fiction!