The Women’s Prize for Fiction, celebrating the best in contemporary fiction written by women, has released its much-anticipated shortlist for 2024. From a longlist of 16 titles, the judges have carefully selected six outstanding novels that represent a diverse array of voices and experiences.
The shortlist includes two Irish authors, Anne Enright with “The Wren, The Wren” and Claire Kilroy with “Soldier, Sailor”. Two American writers, VV Ganeshananthan with “Brotherless Night” and Aube Rey Lescure with “River East, River West”, have also made the cut. The list is completed by Australian author Kate Grenville with “Restless Dolly Maunder” and British author Isabella Hammad with “Enter Ghost”.
Kate Grenville previously won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2001 for her novel “The Idea of Perfection”. This year, her novel “Restless Dolly Maunder” follows the extraordinary journey of a woman determined to forge her own path in a male-dominated world.
VV Ganeshananthan’s “Brotherless Night” explores the fractured dynamics of a family torn apart by Sri Lanka’s civil war, while Aube Rey Lescure’s “River East, River West” offers a unique immigrant narrative set against the backdrop of China’s economic boom.
Isabella Hammad’s “Enter Ghost” tells the story of a Palestinian woman returning to the West Bank and becoming entangled in a theatrical production of Hamlet. Claire Kilroy’s “Soldier, Sailor” takes a darkly comedic look at the complexities of motherhood and its impact on creativity and autonomy.
Chair of the judging panel, Monica Ali, praised the shortlisted novels for their brilliance, thought-provoking themes, and captivating storytelling. “Readers will be captivated by the characters, the luminous writing, and the exquisite storytelling. Each book is gloriously compelling and inventive, lingering in the heart and mind long after the final page,” Ali said.
The winner of the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction will be announced on June 13. The prize celebrates and promotes women’s voices in literature, acknowledging the exceptional quality and diversity of fiction written by female authors.
