The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award for fiction written by women. The award, which was established in 1996, celebrates and supports women writing fiction, and accepts entrances from any woman whatever her nationality, country of residence or age.
This is its 22nd year, and on the judging panel this time around are CEO of House Productions, Tessa Ross (chair), broadcaster and presenter, Katie Derham, novelist and essayist, Aminatta Forna, journalist and co-founder of The Pool, Sam Baker and comic and author, Sara Pascoe.
Today, to coincide with International Women’s Day, the longlist for the award has been announced, and honours both new and well-established writers and features a mixture of genres. The longlist features 16 entries, including the horror ‘Little Deaths’, the first novel by Emma Flint; ‘Barkskins’ by the American author of ‘Brokeback Mountain’, Annie Proulx; ‘Hag-Seed by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, as well as a novel from the 2008 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction winner Rose Tremain, who entered her 14th novel, ‘The Gustav Sonata’.
The longlist features six nationalities – UK, Ireland, America, Canada, South Africa and Nigeria. There are three first novels, three previously shortlisted authors and three previous winners.
The shortlist will be announced on April 3rd, and the shortlist readings will take place on June 5th. The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on June 7th in London.
See all the longlisted entries in the gallery below.
Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist - Grazia
Margaret Atwood - 'Hag-Seed'. Canadian, 16th novel.
Madeleine Thien - 'Do Not Say We Have Nothing'. Canadian, 3rd novel.
Annie Proulx - 'Barkskins'. American, 8th novel.
Emma Flint - 'Little Deaths'. British, 1st novel.
Gwendoline Riley - First Love. British, 6th novel.
Fiona Melrose - 'Midwinter'. South African, 1st novel.
Ayu1ecd̀bámi Adébáyu1ecd̀̀ - 'Stay With Me'. Nigerian, 1st novel.
Linda Grant - 'The Dark Circle'. British, 6th novel. 2000 winner.
Sarah Perry - 'The Essex Serpent'. British, 2nd novel.
Rose Tremain - 'The Gustav Sonata'. British, 14th novel. 2008 winner.
Eimear McBride - 'The Lesser Bohemians'. Irish, 2nd novel.
Heather O'Neill - 'The Lonely Hearts Hotel'. Canadian, 3rd novel.
Mary Gaitskill - 'The Mare'. American, 3rd novel.
Naomi Alderman - 'The Power'. British, 4th novel.
Yewande Omotoso - 'The Woman Next Door'. South African, 2nd novel.
C. E. Morgan - 'The Sport of Kings'. American, 2nd novel.
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