A short list of authors competing for a prestigious literary prize has been announced, showcasing predominantly British writers. The finalists include Rachel Clarke, a palliative care doctor with the National Health Service; Chloe Dalton, a political advisor and foreign policy expert; marine biologist Helen Scales; and historian and biographer Clare Mulley.
Singer and songwriter Neneh Cherry is in the running with “A Thousand Threads,” a memoir offering an intimate look at her career and travels in a life filled with love and music.
Author Yuan Yang has been selected for her book “Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China,” which explores the coming-of-age experiences of four women born in China in the 1980s and 1990s during a time of imminent societal transformation.
Rachel Clarke’s work, “The Story of a Heart,” intertwines the tale of two children connected by a heart transplant with the history of cardiac surgery, blending medical details with its human impact.
Chloe Dalton’s debut, “Raising Hare,” recounts the true story of rescuing a leveret during the pandemic, a personal account from the author’s own life.
The list rounds out with “What the Wild Sea Can Be” by Helen Scales, addressing the future of the ocean, and “Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka,” by Clare Mulley, focusing on Polish WWII resistance fighter Elzbieta Zawacka, the only woman in the elite Polish special forces.
Kavita Puri, chair of the judging panel, remarked that these six books, representing various genres, are united by “unforgettable voices, rigor, and a unique vision.” She highlighted that the works encompass “narratives that honor the natural world and its connection to humanity, meticulously researched stories of women challenging power, and books that illuminate complex themes with authority, nuance, and originality.”
“These books will linger in our mind long after being read, thanks to their extraordinary prose, craftsmanship, and insights into the human condition and our world,” she added.
The winner is set to be announced on June 2nd, alongside the winning work of the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction is an esteemed accolade for non-fiction works penned by women, described as a “sister prize” to the Women’s Prize for Fiction. This award, announced in February 2023, was first granted last year.
The prize carries a monetary value of 30,000 pounds (approximately 35,000 euros) and is funded by the Charlotte Aitken Trust, a fund established by literary agent Gillon Aitken (1938-2016) in memory of his daughter Charlotte, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 27.
Last year’s Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction was awarded to Canadian essayist and activist Naomi Klein for “Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World.”
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