Whose lunch is it anyway? Match the authors with their midday meal | Books

Before trying to guess which lunch belongs to whom, take a minute to meet the seven writers whose eating habits you will be interrogating…

Francis Spufford
Initially a writer of nonfiction, Spufford published his first novel, Golden Hill, in 2016 and won a clutch of awards including the Ondaatje prize. His latest novel is Cahokia Jazz and he teaches creative writing at Goldsmiths.

Oyinkan Braithwaite
Born in Nigeria and raised between London and Lagos, Braithwaite is the author of 2018’s Booker longlisted My Sister, the Serial Killer, described by the Guardian as “a morbidly funny slashfest”.

AK Blakemore
Author of two novels including last year’s The Glutton, whose protagonist’s appetites contrast with the author’s own – “I struggle to see food as much beyond nourishment,” Blakemore admits. She also writes poetry and has translated work by a Sichuanese poet.

Kevin Barry
Barry, who lives in rural Co Sligo, where he grows his own veg, is the author of three short-story collections and four novels, most recently The Heart in Winter, set in 1890s Montana. He won the International Dublin literary award for 2011’s City of Bohane.

Fiona Mozley
Mozley’s debut novel, Elmet, was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 2017. She followed it up with 2021’s Soho-set Hot Stew, which confirmed her as “a writer of extraordinary empathic gifts”, according to the Observer.

Mark Haddon
Poet, playwright, novelist and long-time vegetarian, Haddon made his name with the 2003 bestseller, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. His latest short story collection, Dogs and Monsters, came out in August.

Sathnam Sanghera
Author and award-winning journalist, Sanghera has written a memoir about growing up in Wolverhampton, a novel about immigrant families and marriage (also set in Wolverhampton), and several books about British imperialism including 2021’s bestselling Empireland.