Admin l Monday, April 29, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – Organisers of Women Prize for Fiction have shortlisted six writers for the 2019 prize. The six writers from different voices and nationalities were shortlisted by the judges.
They are The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, Milkman by Anna Burns, Ordinary People by Diana Evans, An American Marriage by Tayari Jones and Circe by Madeline Miller.
The judges for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, who are all passionate about shining a light on writing by women, are:
Professor Kate Williams (Chair), author, historian and Professor of History at the University of ReadingArifa Akbar, journalist and criticDolly Alderton, columnist, broadcaster and authorLeyla Hussein, campaigner and psychotherapistSarah Wood, digital entrepreneur
Speaking on the shortlist, Chair of the Judges,Professor Kate Williams, said it’s a fantastic shortlist; exciting, vibrant, adventurous.
“We fell totally in love with these books and the amazing worlds they created. These books are fiction at its best – brilliant, courageous and utterly captivating.”
This year’s list features one debut author (Oyinkan Braithwaite), as well as a previous winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction (Madeline Miller, for The Song of Achilles), a winner of Orange Award for New Writers (Diana Evans, for 26a) and one previously shortlisted author (Anna Burns, for No Bones).
Earlier, Professor Kate Williams said she is very honoured to be chairing the judging panel for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction alongside such an incredible and inspiring group of women.
“The works of female writers continue to move, challenge and entertain us – as well as open up new perspectives onto our world. At this point in history, the need for different kinds of voices is more pressing than ever, and I’m looking forward to discussing this year’s nominated books with my fellow judges.”
