News

Current News


 'BRAVE AND INNOVATIVE' NOVEL IN VERSE SHORTLISTED FOR DEBUT FICTION PRIZE

 

THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2013 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

 

The annual Desmond Elliott Prize, which celebrates and champions the very best in debut fiction, has today (Thursday 23 May 2013) announced a shortlist of three novels, including The Marlowe Papers, a story written entirely in verse. An ‘ambitious undertaking’ for a new novelist, it focuses on the enduring mystery of Christopher Marlowe’s untimely death.

The 2013 shortlist was selected from a longlist of ten novels by a panel of judges chaired by best-selling novelist, Joanne Harris, who said: ‘What is so startling about this shortlist is that here we have three first-time novelists ambitiously pushing the boundaries of style and form, with the confidence of authors much later into their careers: Gavin Extence’s debut is precisely plotted and has an audaciously realised circular narrative; the use of verse in The Marlowe Papers is brave and innovative; and Jenni Fagan’s use of the Scottish vernacular in The Panopticon is original and assured. If this is the benchmark for debut novels today the future of UK and Irish literature is in safe hands.’

The Desmond Elliott Prize 2013 shortlist in full (in alphabetical order by author):

·         The Marlowe Papers by Ros Barber (Sceptre)

·         The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence (Hodder & Stoughton)

·         The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan (William Heinemann)

The protagonists of all three titles play out their lives at the margins of society: the extraordinary accident which befalls ten-year–old Alex precipitates a whole series of life-changing events in The Universe Versus Alex Woods; in The Panopticon, Anais Hendricks is banished to a young offender institute of the most intimidating kind; and Christopher Marlowe re-tells the shocking story of his ‘death’ and subsequent exile in The Marlowe Papers.

Miriam Robinson, fellow judge and Head of Marketing at Foyles Bookshop, said: ‘We are incredibly pleased with this shortlist, and feel that this diverse selection offers a hint at today's thriving and multi-faceted literary scene. All three writers have the imagination and technical ability to build on the considerable potential that The Desmond Elliott Prize prides itself in recognising.'

The three shortlisted authors have received impressive accolades and critical acclaim in their burgeoning careers: Fagan was named as one of Granta magazine’s Best of Young British Novelists and has been shortlisted for the James Tait Black fiction award; The Universe Versus Alex Woods, written by junior chess champion Extence, has been selected for the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club and The Big City Read in Bristol and Somerset; while The Marlowe Papers was also longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

'BRAVE AND INNOVATIVE' NOVEL IN VERSE SHORTLISTED FOR DEBUT FICTION PRIZE

The Desmond Elliot Prize 2013 shortlist announced

Read more »Thursday, May 23, 2013

2013 Longlist Announced

The Desmond Elliott Prize, which celebrates and champions the very best in debut fiction, is this year dominated by female talent, leaving space for just three male writers on the longlist of ten

Read more »Thursday, April 25, 2013

Joanne Harris to chair judging panel for The Desmond Elliott Prize 2013

Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat, is to chair the judging panel for this year's Desmond Elliott Prize, one of the most prestigious awards for debut novelists from the UK and Ireland.

Read more »Friday, January 25, 2013

Call for Entries for The Desmond Elliott Prize 2013

Entries are invited for The Desmond Elliott Prize 2013, one of the most prestigious literary awards for debut writers in the UK and Ireland.

Read more »Wednesday, September 26, 2012

New film tells story of the Desmond Elliott Prize for new fiction

New film celebrates fifth anniversary of the Desmond Elliott Prize

Read more »Friday, July 13, 2012

Grace McCleen wins the Desmond Elliott Prize with The Land of Decoration

Grace McCleen has tonight been named the winner of the fifth Desmond Elliott Prize for her novel The Land of Decoration, published by Chatto & Windus.

Read more »Thursday, June 28, 2012

Win the Desmond Elliott Prize Shortlist for 2012

With just a few days to go until the winner of the Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction is announced on the 28th June, we are celebrating the Prize's 5th anniversary by giving away 4 sets of copies of the three shortlisted titles.

Read more »Friday, June 15, 2012

2012 Shortlist announced

The Desmond Elliott Prize shortlist for 2012 has been announced, celebrating the very best of debut fiction by the rising stars of the literary world.

Read more »Thursday, May 24, 2012

2012 Longlist Announced

Psychological thrillers, philosophical journeys and coming-of-age stories are amongst the ten debut novels longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize today, Tuesday 24 April 2012. With many of the books focusing on politics and social realism, this longlist reflects a trend in debut fiction of bringing contemporary resonance to some traditional heavyweight themes.

Read more »Tuesday, April 24, 2012
web design london : pedalo limited