Barbara Kingsolver Returns with 'Partita,' Her First Novel Since 'Demon Copperhead'

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author takes on classical music in her latest work.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Barbara Kingsolver, the acclaimed author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'Demon Copperhead,' is set to release her first novel since that bestseller. Titled 'Partita,' the new book will be published on October 6, 2026 and centers on a married woman haunted by her passion for classical music, a subject Kingsolver rarely discussed growing up in a small Kentucky town.

Why it matters

Kingsolver is known for her socially conscious fiction that often explores themes of class, community, immigration, and the environment. 'Partita' marks a departure as it delves into the world of classical music, a subject the author kept private in her youth despite being a music scholarship student.

The details

In the 1970s, Kingsolver was a music scholarship student at DePauw University who later switched her major to biology, deciding she had little chance of making a career out of playing classical piano. She went on to become a celebrated novelist, publishing works like 'The Bean Trees,' 'The Poisonwood Bible,' and most recently, 'Demon Copperhead.' With 'Partita,' Kingsolver explores the passion for music that she kept hidden in her small-town upbringing.

  • Barbara Kingsolver's 'Partita' will be published on October 6, 2026.
  • Kingsolver's previous novel, 'Demon Copperhead,' was published in 2022 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The players

Barbara Kingsolver

A celebrated American novelist known for her socially conscious fiction, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Demon Copperhead.'

Harper

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers that will release Kingsolver's new novel 'Partita' in the United States.

Faber

The publisher that will release 'Partita' in the United Kingdom, two days after the U.S. publication.

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What they’re saying

“All my life, I've loved both language and music in a hungry, passionate way that happily entwines them in my brain. A novel about a classical musician never occurred to me, though, because of the sorts of people I write about. I was the weird country kid who loved reading Tolstoy and playing Bach, but I kept those interests to myself. Finally, now, it strikes me as a worthy project to ask who made these rules, that small-town fiddlers and country music fans don't feel welcome in a symphony hall, and vice versa?”

— Barbara Kingsolver (HarperCollins)

The takeaway

With 'Partita,' Barbara Kingsolver is exploring a new creative direction by delving into the world of classical music, a passion she kept private in her youth despite her musical training. This departure from her socially conscious fiction marks an intriguing new chapter in the celebrated author's acclaimed career.