The Mercy Step

Former Brasenose student Marcia Hutchinson was published her first novel, the Mercy Step. Named one of the best New Novelists for 2025 by The Observer. Bradford, December 1962. A precocious Mercy makes her reluctant entrance into the world, torn from the warm embrace of her mother’s womb, to a chaotic household that seems to have no place for her. Her siblings do not understand her, her mother’s attention is given to the Church, and the entire family lives at the whims of her.

After an undistinguished career as a lawyer, then a slightly more distinguished one as an educational publisher, (she was awarded an MBE for services to cultural diversity in 2010), Marcia has finally turned her hand to her first love, creative writing. Her debut novel The Mercy Step inspired by her early life in Bradford, was published in July. It was selected as one of the Observer’s best debut novels of 2025.

She was in conversation with Sos Eltis professor of English at Brasenose College, at Daunt books in Summertown on 11th September 2025. ‘It was a wonderful experience to get Professor Eltis’ forensic take on my novel’ said Marcia, ‘She really excavated the themes of love loss and family which I tried to explore, and the constructs that I used to get into the head of a newborn baby.’

I don’t believe I was ever cut out for law but it’s taken me until my sixties to find my true calling. My advice to any aspiring novelist is, don’t give up because unlike many other professions, with creative writing, like a fine wine, you just mature. It is never too late.’