2020 International DUBLIN Literary Award announced
Eight novels from Ireland are among 156 books nominated by libraries around the world for the 2020 International DUBLIN Literary Award. With the winner receiving €100,000, the Award is the world’s most valuable annual prize for a single work of fiction published in English. Nominations include 50 novels in translation with works nominated by libraries from 40 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, the US & Canada, South America and Australia & New Zealand. Details of all the longlisted books https://dublinliteraryaward.ie/
Organised by Dublin City Council, the 2020 Award was launched by Cllr. Mary Fitzpatrick, representing Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe, Patron of the Award. Cllr. Fitzpatrick commended the Award for its promotion of excellence in world literature and the opportunity it provides to promote Irish writing internationally;
“I am very pleased that Dublin City Council continues to support this significant international award. Dublin is a UNESCO City of Literature and the Council is committed to further developing the City’s worldwide reputation as a literary destination, a key part of our cultural tourism offering.”
The Irish titles nominated for the 2020 Award are:
- A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne
- Milkman by Anna Burns
- The Woman in the Woods by John Connolly
- Begotten Not Made by Cónal Creedon
- Orchid and the Wasp by Caoilinn Hughes
- Skin Deep by Liz Nugent
- Travelling in a Strange Land by David Park
- Normal People by Sally Rooney
The International DUBLIN Literary Award is managed by Dublin City Council’s library service. Mairead Owens, Dublin City Librarian, announced that the 156 books eligible for the 2020 award were nominated by libraries in 119 cities and 40 countries worldwide; noting that 50 are titles in translation, spanning 21 languages and 51 books are first novels. More details at
Speaking of the global interest in the Award, the City Librarian Mairead Owens remarked;
“This great prize affirms Dublin’s commitment to international writers and translators, to literature and creativity. Through this award Dublin, a UNESCO City of Literature, brings the worldwide community of readers together to read the works of contemporary writers from all corners of the world.”