LONDON– Two novels that tell complex and surprising stories about migration are among the six finalists for the 2024 Women’s Fiction Prize.
French-American writer Aube Rey Lescure’s debut novel, “River East, River West,” describes immigration from west to east through the history of Americans in China, while British author Isabella’s “Enter Ghost” Hammad, chronicles the complicated return of a Shakespeare actress to her Palestinian homeland.
The shortlist announced Wednesday for the 30,000-pound ($37,000) prize includes two Irish writers: Claire Kilroy, for her motherhood story, “Soldier, Sailor,” and Anne Enright, for the multigenerational saga “The Wren, The Wren.”
Australian Kate Grenville, a previous winner of the Women’s Prize, makes the list with her eighth novel, the historical adventure “Restless Dolly Maunder.” American writer VV Ganeshananthan is nominated for her second novel, “Brotherless Night,” set during the Sri Lankan civil war.
Founded in 1996, the award is open to English-speaking women writers from any country. Previous winners include Zadie Smith, Tayari Jones and Barbara Kingsolver, who won last year for “Demon Copperhead.”
This year, awards organizers launched a Women’s Nonfiction Prize to help rectify an imbalance in publishing. In 2022, only 26.5% of non-fiction books reviewed in British newspapers were dominated by women, and male writers established non-fiction writing awards.
Winners of the fiction and non-fiction awards will be crowned at a ceremony in London on June 13.