Authors Chibundu Onuzo, Tom Benn, Andrea Eames, DW Wilson and Maggie Shipstead
A 21-year-old Nigerian novelist is the youngest of five rising literary stars shortlisted for the 2012 University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize.
Chibundu Onuzo’s book The Spider King’s Daughter has been described as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of a changing Lagos.
Also from Africa is Zimbabwe-raised Andrea Eames, whose The White Shadow is set in 1970s Rhodesia, and tells the story of “a young boy struggling to do the right thing in an unpredictable world”.
Open to any published author in the English language under the age of 30, the annual international prize is one of the largest of its kind in the world for young writers.
Californian Maggie Shipstead’s debut novel Seating Arrangements, which lays bare the pretentions of New England society, also makes the cut, along with Tom Benn’s crime fiction debut, The Doll Princess, which explores the criminal underworld of 90s Manchester.
Canadian DW Wilson’s collection of short stories, Once You Break a Knuckle, “about good people who make bad choices”, completes “a list of powerful and exciting books with a truly international reach, in which violence, repression and the difficulty of escaping pre-determined roles are themes which prevail throughout”.
The five young writers were chosen by a panel of judges including Hay Festival founder Peter Florence, novelist Allison Pearson, Catatonia singer and BBC 6 music presenter Cerys Matthews, and Guardian Review journalist Nicholas Wroe.
Matthews said: “Considering that Dylan wrote some of his most revered poetry at the age of 20, it’s great to be involved in something which encourages young writers. The short listing was fraught with differing opinions; I look forward to the final melee.”
Chairman of the Dylan Thomas Prize, Peter Stead, said: "These books have come from around the world, two from Africa, one from Canada, one from the USA and one from England, and the hallmark of them all is readability.
“These are all thunderingly good stories written with maturity, flair and confidence. Yet again the Dylan Thomas prize is assured a great winner.”
Following the announcement of the 2012 Man Booker Prize on Tuesday, The Dylan Thomas Prize celebrates up-and-coming writing talent which will be making a significant mark on the literary scene in years to come.
The prize honours the internationally esteemed works of Thomas, who first came to the attention of the literary establishment on the publication of Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines when he was 20.
With a prize fund of £30,000, the prize aims to nurture and inspire young writing talent from around the world.
Starting this week, the prize’s education programme, DylanEd, will be sending creative writing teachers out to 10 schools across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthen and Powys.
The shortlisted authors will also participate in a programme of workshops and readings in the Welsh community in the week preceding the announcement of the winner on November 9, the anniversary of Thomas’ death.
Chibundu Onuzo’s book The Spider King’s Daughter has been described as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of a changing Lagos.
Also from Africa is Zimbabwe-raised Andrea Eames, whose The White Shadow is set in 1970s Rhodesia, and tells the story of “a young boy struggling to do the right thing in an unpredictable world”.
Open to any published author in the English language under the age of 30, the annual international prize is one of the largest of its kind in the world for young writers.
Californian Maggie Shipstead’s debut novel Seating Arrangements, which lays bare the pretentions of New England society, also makes the cut, along with Tom Benn’s crime fiction debut, The Doll Princess, which explores the criminal underworld of 90s Manchester.
Canadian DW Wilson’s collection of short stories, Once You Break a Knuckle, “about good people who make bad choices”, completes “a list of powerful and exciting books with a truly international reach, in which violence, repression and the difficulty of escaping pre-determined roles are themes which prevail throughout”.
The five young writers were chosen by a panel of judges including Hay Festival founder Peter Florence, novelist Allison Pearson, Catatonia singer and BBC 6 music presenter Cerys Matthews, and Guardian Review journalist Nicholas Wroe.
Matthews said: “Considering that Dylan wrote some of his most revered poetry at the age of 20, it’s great to be involved in something which encourages young writers. The short listing was fraught with differing opinions; I look forward to the final melee.”
Chairman of the Dylan Thomas Prize, Peter Stead, said: "These books have come from around the world, two from Africa, one from Canada, one from the USA and one from England, and the hallmark of them all is readability.
“These are all thunderingly good stories written with maturity, flair and confidence. Yet again the Dylan Thomas prize is assured a great winner.”
Following the announcement of the 2012 Man Booker Prize on Tuesday, The Dylan Thomas Prize celebrates up-and-coming writing talent which will be making a significant mark on the literary scene in years to come.
The prize honours the internationally esteemed works of Thomas, who first came to the attention of the literary establishment on the publication of Light Breaks Where No Sun Shines when he was 20.
With a prize fund of £30,000, the prize aims to nurture and inspire young writing talent from around the world.
Starting this week, the prize’s education programme, DylanEd, will be sending creative writing teachers out to 10 schools across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthen and Powys.
The shortlisted authors will also participate in a programme of workshops and readings in the Welsh community in the week preceding the announcement of the winner on November 9, the anniversary of Thomas’ death.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/books-in-wales/2012/10/19/dylan-thomas-prize-thunderingly-good-shortlist-revealed-91466-32058328/#ixzz2A35Wpt65
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