One Irish author, 3 novels in translation among the shortlist
Thursday 3rd September 2020: 10 novels have been shortlisted for the 2020 International DUBLIN Literary Award, sponsored by Dublin City Council. Celebrating 25 years, this award is the world’s most valuable annual prize for a single work of fiction published in English, worth €100,000 to the winner. If the book has been translated the author receives €75,000 and the translator receives €25,000.
The shortlist announced today includes Milkman by Irish author Anna Burns, and 3 novels in translation. The writers, 8 of whom are female, come from Canada, France, India, Iran, Ireland, Poland, the UK and the USA.
The winner of the International Dublin Literary Award 2020 will be announced by its Patron, Lord Mayor Hazel Chu on Thursday 22nd October, as part of International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFDublin).
The shortlisted titles are:
- The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (British). Published by Hamish Hamilton Ltd.
- Milkman by Anna Burns (Irish). Published by Faber & Faber and Graywolf Press.
- Disoriental by Négar Djavadi (Iranian-French). Translated from the French by Tina Kover. Published by Europa Editions.
- Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Canadian). Published by Serpents Tail Ltd., HarperCollins Canada and Alfred A. Knopf.
- An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (American). Published by Algonquin Books.
- History of Violence by Édouard Louis (French). Translated from the French by Lorin Stein. Published by Harvill Secker.
- The Friend by Sigrid Nunez (American). Published by Virago Press Ltd.
- There There by Tommy Orange (Native American). Published by Harvill Secker, Alfred A. Knopf and McClelland & Stewart Inc.
- All the Lives We Never Lived by Anuradha Roy (Indian). Published by MacLehose Press and Atria Books.
- Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (Polish). Translated by from the Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions.
Patron of the Award, Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu, commended the Award for its promotion of excellence in world literature and the opportunity it provides to promote Irish writing internationally;
‘Looking at this fantastic list of books makes me so excited about our Literary Award this year. It’s more important than ever that Dublin City Council does its best to support the Arts in such challenging times and the International Dublin Literary Award is a huge statement of encouragement for writers.
In October, we’ll find out which of these talented authors will receive €100,000 from the city but in the meantime I urge everyone to read as many of the ten as you can. Borrow them from your local library countrywide. And the very best of luck to them all!’ – Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu.
The novels on this year’s shortlist were nominated by public libraries in Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Poland, the UK and the USA, and come from Canada, France, India, Iran, Ireland, Poland the UK and the USA. Memorable characters tell stories of identity and displacement, violence and war, hope and humanity, love and loss, family and relationships, incarceration and racism, justice and tradition set in both familiar and unfamiliar countries and cultures.
Borrow the Books
All the novels nominated for the Award are available for readers to borrow from Dublin’s public libraries and from public libraries around Ireland. Readers can also borrow most of the shortlisted titles on BorrowBox – eBooks and eAudiobooks for limited periods by way of digital loans. The longlist of 156 titles has been published in a free magazine, and all details are also on the newly revamped Award website at www.dublinliteraryaward.ie.
Key Dates
The six member international judging panel, chaired by Prof. Chris Morash, will select one winner, which will be announced by the Patron of the Award, Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu on Thursday 22nd October during the International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFDublin) reimagined 2020 festival.
For more information on the International Dublin Literary Award and the Shortlist go to www.dublinliteraryaward.ie
