THE shortlist for the UK’s longest-running literary prizes, based in Scotland, has been announced.
The James Tait Black Prizes, now in its one-hundred-and-fifth year, is the only major British book prize to be judged by literature scholars and students.
The winners of the two prizes – in fiction and biography – will each receive £10,000 and will join a long list of acclaimed authors to have been recognised by the award, including Ian McEwan, Angela Carter, Muriel Spark, Zadie Smith and Graham Greene.
READ MORE: Scottish stars demand UK Government ends arms exports to Israel
The shortlists will be reread, annotated and discussed by students and scholars to decide the winners of both prizes, which will be announced by the University of Edinburgh in May.
The James Tait Black Prizes began celebrating books in Edinburgh in 1919 after Janet Tait Black (born Coats) – part of the renowned threadmaking family J & P Coats – made a provision in her will for the creation of two book prizes to be awarded annually in memory of her husband, James Tait Black.
Fiction judge, Dr Benjamin Bateman, said the shortlist reflected “strikingly different takes” on “the ambivalence of living in an increasingly interconnected world”.
Meanwhile, biography judge Dr Simon Cooke said the shortlist reflected a “kaleidoscopic gathering of astonishing, formally daring life-writings".
See the full shortlists below.
Fiction prize shortlist
- Lori and Joe by Amy Arnold
- Open Throat by Henry Hoke
- Though the Bodies Fall by Noel O’Regan
- Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright
Biography prize shortlist
- This Is Not Miami by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie Hughes
- Traces of Enayat by Iman Mersal, translated by Robin Moger
- Fassbinder Thousands of Mirrors by Ian Penman
- Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe
- Always Reaching: The Selected Writings of Anne Truitt by Anne Truitt
- Lifescapes by Anne Wroe
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here