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Renowned Authors and Fresh Voices Vie for Women’s Prize for Fiction
LONDON – Celebrated American writers Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among the shortlisted finalists announced Wednesday for the prestigious Women’s Prize for Fiction. They are joined by four debut novelists, all exploring themes of personal liberty across diverse cultures and countries.
Shortlist Highlights Established and Emerging Talent
Pulitzer Prize recipient Elizabeth Strout’s compelling mystery novel, “Tell Me Everything,” set in Maine, and writer-filmmaker Miranda July’s “All Fours,” featuring a “semi-famous artist” in pursuit of a new life, are both contenders for the esteemed £30,000 (approximately $39,000) literary award. The prize is open to female authors writing in English from any nation.
The nominees also include Dutch author Yael van der Wouden with her post-World War II narrative, “The Safekeep,” and German-born poet Aria Aber, recognized for her novel “Good Girl,” which delves into a teenager’s exploration of her German-Afghan heritage.
Completing the list are Iran-born writer Sanam Mahloudji’s multigenerational family story, “The Persians,” and “Fundamentally” by British author Nussaibah Younis. Younis’s novel centers on an academic working to rehabilitate women associated with the Islamic State group.
Judges Praise Depth and Humor in Nominated Works
Author Kit de Waal, who is presiding over the judging panel, described the selected six books as potential “classics of the future” that deeply examine “the significance of human connection.”
“It is both surprising and invigorating to witness such humor, subtlety, and lightness employed by these novelists as they illuminate complex and challenging concepts,” she stated.
A Legacy of Celebrating Women’s Fiction
The fiction prize, established in 1996, boasts a distinguished list of past winners including celebrated writers such as Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones, and Barbara Kingsolver.
Expanding Recognition: Women’s Prize for Nonfiction
Reflecting a commitment to broader recognition, organizers introduced a companion Women’s Prize for Nonfiction last year. This initiative addresses acknowledged imbalances within the publishing industry, where, in 2022, female authors wrote only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in British newspapers and were underrepresented in prominent nonfiction writing prizes.
Awards Ceremony in June
The winners for both the nonfiction and fiction prizes are scheduled to be revealed at a ceremony in London on June 12.