Kate Quinn at a Glance

Full Name: Kate Quinn

Pronunciation: KAYT KWIN

Born: November 30, 1981

Nationality: United States

Education:

• Boston University (BA and MA, Classical Voice)

Genres:

• Historical fiction

Biography & Background

Kate Quinn Biography

Born in Southern California in 1981, Kate Quinn studied classical voice at Boston University before becoming a New York Times best-selling author known for historical fiction that explores various eras from a feminist perspective. Several of her standalone novels focus on aspects of World War I and II; for example, The Diamond Eye features the real-life figure of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Ukrainian sniper who earned the nickname “Lady Death” during World War II, while The Alice Network reveals the lives of female spies during World War I.

Quinn has also penned several series that reach further back in history. Her highly popular Empress of Rome series currently includes four full installments and an interim novel, and although each story can be read separately, they collectively create a vivid panorama of several distinct eras in ancient Roman history. Likewise, her Borgia Chronicles series, which explores the Italian Renaissance, consists of two novels and portrays the Borgia family from the unlikely perspectives of the Pope’s mistress, her bodyguard, and the resident chef. With each new project, Quinn takes pains to reimagine well-known historical events from unique viewpoints. In 2025, however, she announced her intention to shift gears with her next novel, The Astral Library, which embraces the hallmarks of magical realism.

Fun Facts About Kate Quinn

• Kate Quinn lives in Maryland and has three rescue dogs.
• Quinn credits her mother, a librarian, for inspiring her lifelong fascination with history, as her mother would frequently share stories about the past.
• Coincidentally, The Diamond Eye was released in March 2022, a bare few weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, although Quinn wrote the novel long before the invasion occurred.

Kate Quinn’s Awards & Honors

• 2017 — Reese’s Book Club (The Alice Network)
• 2022 — Alex Award (The Rose Code)
• 2022 — Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year for Mystery (The Diamond Eye)
• 2024 — NPR Best Book of the Year (The Phoenix Crown)

Interviews & Podcasts

Hear from Kate Quinn in her own words.

Interviews with Kate Quinn

_{WRITER’S DIGEST}

Writer’s Digest Interview: Kate Quinn (June 17, 2022)

Quinn reflects on the intersection of meticulous research and narrative freedom in her historical fiction, offering insight into how she balances fact and imagination. A thoughtful read for fans and aspiring authors alike.

_{BOOK NOTIONS}

Q&A with Kate Quinn (2025)

Quinn shares insights on co-authoring, research, and managing the balance between history and narrative in storytelling. Quinn also discusses her next solo novel, The Astral Library (2026), which will “a bit more magic realism” than her past books.

Podcasts with Kate Quinn

_{WINE WOMEN WORDS}

The Briar Club with Kate Quinn (July 16, 2024)

Quinn joins the hosts of Wine Women Words to talk about The Briar Club, the challenges of writing Cold War-era fiction, and her fascination with strong, complicated women across history.

_{BOOKS AND THE CITY}

Author Interview: Kate Quinn (March 11, 2021)

In this engaging conversation Becky and Kayla of Books and the City, Quinn discusses The Rose Code and how the story of women codebreakers in World War II shaped her understanding of heroism, secrecy, and sisterhood.

Kate Quinn Quotes

Poetry is like passion—it should not be merely pretty; it should overwhelm and bruise.

— The Alice Network (2017)

Some men ogle, some men look. The first makes us bristle, and the second makes us melt, and men are at an utter loss knowing the difference. But we do, and we know it at once.

— The Huntress (2019)

Building a generation is like building a wall—one good well-made brick at a time, one good well-made child at a time. Enough good bricks, you have a good wall. Enough good children, you have a generation that won’t start a world-enveloping war.

— The Huntress (2019)

He doesn’t need to tend her, because she hunts her own prey. He doesn’t need to shield her, because she kills her own enemies. He doesn’t need to look for her, because she’s always at his side.

— Lady of the Eternal City (2015)

I sometimes think this country is an eternal battle between our best and our worst angels. Hopefully we’re listening to the good angel more often that the bad one.

— The Briar Club (2024)

Notable Books by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network (2017)

Quinn’s breakout hit tells the story of two women—one a former spy, the other a pregnant American socialite—whose lives intersect in Europe after World War I. Inspired by real female espionage agents, the novel explores courage, betrayal, and solidarity among women.

Explore the full breakdown with SuperSummary’s study guide.

The Rose Code (2021)

Set at Bletchley Park—the locus of the Allies’ codebreaking efforts during World War II—this novel follows three women who work as codebreakers and later reunite to solve a postwar mystery. Quinn’s knack for rich historical detail and emotional depth shines in this story of friendship, secrets, and redemption.

Uncover more about this novel with SuperSummary’s study guide.

The Diamond Eye (2022)

Inspired by the true story of Soviet sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, credited with 309 kills during World War II, this novel brings the war’s Eastern Front to vivid life. Quinn captures the contradictions of fame, war, and womanhood in a compelling portrait of one of history’s most unlikely heroines.

Ready to dig in? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide.

Authors Like Kate Quinn

Octavia Butler

Recommended Read: Kindred (1979)

In this genre-bending novel, a Black woman is pulled back in time to the antebellum South, where she must navigate slavery and family legacy. Like Quinn, Butler uses immersive storytelling and female protagonists to examine oppression and survival.

Want to learn more? Dive into SuperSummary’s study guide.

Pat Barker

Recommended Read: The Silence of the Girls (2018)

Barker reimagines the Trojan War through the eyes of Briseis, a captive woman caught in Achilles’s orbit. Her unflinching feminist retelling will resonate with readers who admire Quinn’s commitment to women’s perspectives in history.

Uncover more with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Maggie O’Farrell

Recommended Read: Hamnet (2020)

This lyrical historical novel centers on Shakespeare’s family and the grief that shaped his most famous play, Hamlet. O’Farrell’s nuanced approach to emotional and historical complexity echoes Quinn’s focus on personal stakes in sweeping narratives.

Explore the full breakdown with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Follow Kate Quinn

Connect with Kate Quinn on the following platforms:

• Author Website: www.katequinnauthor.com
• Facebook: Kate Quinn Author
• Instagram: @katequinn5975
• Goodreads: Kate Quinn