'The message is clear'

 

“The message is clear: libraries matter. Their solid presence at the heart of our towns sends the proud signal that everyone - whoever they are, whatever their educational background, whatever their age or their needs - is welcome.” –  Kate Mosse

  

Born in Chichester, England on Oct. 20, 1961 Mosse is both a champion of libraries and award-winning writer of fiction and nonfiction books, numerous short stories, essays and journalistic pieces.   Her best-known novel is the archaeological mystery Labyrinth, translated into more than 37 languages and made into a television miniseries.

 

Although known for her adventure and ghost fiction, inspired by real history, Mosse's first two works were non-fiction: Becoming A Mother, published in 1993 and The House: Behind the Scenes at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, published to accompany the BBC2 show The House.   She has authored 13 novels – the latest being 2024’s The Map of Bones – 5 nonfiction books, and 3 plays.

  

Mosse has contributed essays and stories to a number of anthologies and collections, and her journalistic pieces appear in a wide range of newspapers and magazines, including The Times of London.   She is a co-founder/creator of Great Britain’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, which has spawned a sister award, The Women's Prize for Nonfiction.   In 2024, she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to literature, women and charity.  

 

A stickler for detail and accuracy in historical writing, she noted, “I am not a fan of historical fiction that is sloppy in its research or is dishonest about the real history.”