The Orange Prize For Fiction 2009
The Orange Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious book award for fiction written by a woman, celebrating excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing. The winner will receive a cheque for £30,000 and a limited edition bronze known as a Bessie, created and donated by the artist Grizel Niven. Both are anonymously endowed.
As the winners of one of literature’s largest international prizes are announced tonight, it is key to note that this time some youthful opinion has gone into the overall judging.
Six teenagers aged from 16 to 19 have joined the regular panel of journalists, broadcasters and academics to give their own and honest thoughts of how the shortlisted books have matched up to each other. From observing the six students for just a moment, it is clear to see their passion and youthful exuberance about the books in question and surrounding literature in general.
The overall winner of both the Youth Panel Shortlist and the Regular Panel Shortlist will be announced tomorrow evening at the prestigious London Awards ceremony.
This year's Orange Prize for Fiction shortlisted are:
Samantha Harvey – shortlisted for 'The Wilderness'
Ellen Feldman – shortlisted for 'Scottsboro'
Samantha Hunt – shortlisted for 'The Invention Of Everything Else'
Marilynne Robinson – shortlisted for ‘Home’
Deirdre Madden – shortlisted for ‘Molly Fox’s Birthday’
Kamila Shamsie – shortlisted for ‘Burnt Shadows’
This year's Orange Award for New Writers shortlisted are:
Francesca Kay –Shortlisted for ‘An Equal Stillness’
Nami Mun – Shortlisted for ‘Miles from Nowhere’
Ann Weisgarber- Shortlisted for ‘The Personal History of Rachel DuPree’
The Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 3 June 2009 in The Clore Ballroom of The Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre from 6.00pm.