LONDON (AP) – American authors Elizabeth Strout and Miranda July are among the finalists announced Wednesday for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. They are joined by four debut novelists, each exploring themes of freedom across different countries and cultures.
Strout, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is recognized for her mystery novel set in Maine titled Tell Me Everything. Miranda July’s entry, All Fours, follows a "semi-famous artist" who embarks on a journey to reinvent her life. Both authors are shortlisted for the prestigious £30,000 ($39,000) award, which welcomes submissions from female English-language writers worldwide.
The shortlist also features Dutch author Yael van der Wouden with her postwar narrative The Safekeep, and the novel Good Girl by German-born poet Aria Aber. This book delves into the experiences of a teenager navigating her dual German-Afghan identity. Additionally, the lineup includes Sanam Mahloudji’s intergenerational family saga The Persians, and Fundamentally, penned by Nussaibah Younis, which centers on an academic’s efforts to assist women affected by the Islamic State group.
Kit de Waal, the chair of the judging panel, praised the six nominated works, characterizing them as “classics of the future.” She emphasized the significant theme of human connection explored within these novels, which also incorporate elements of humor, nuance, and lightness to engage with complex ideas.
Established in 1996, the Women’s Prize for Fiction has a notable history, with previous winners including acclaimed authors such as Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones, and Barbara Kingsolver.
In an effort to address disparities in publishing, organizers of the award launched a complementary Women’s Prize for Nonfiction in 2022. This initiative aims to offset the underrepresentation of female authors in the nonfiction genre, as evidenced by statistics showing that only 26.5% of nonfiction books reviewed in British newspapers that year were authored by women.
The winners of both the nonfiction and fiction prizes will be announced on June 12 at a ceremony in London, marking a significant occasion for literary recognition in the realm of women’s literature.
