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The Women’s Fiction Award has announced its longlist for 2021, celebrating excellence, originality and accessibility in writing by women in English from around the world. The longlist covers a wide range of genres, topics and settings – including from London to Hong Kong, Barbados to Brooklyn – and includes both established authors such as Yaa Gyasi and Ali Smith as well as newcomers. The shortlist will be announced on April 28th and the winner will be announced on July 7th.

Bernardine Evaristo, jury chairwoman and award-winning writer for Girl, Woman, Other, commented on the list: “We read so many brilliant novels for this year’s award and had an energetic jury session discussing our passions, opinions and opinions Preferences. Unfortunately, we have had to let go of some well-deserved books, but we are confident that we have selected 16 standout novels that depict a truly wide and varied range of fictions by women, reflecting different perspectives, narrative styles and interests. We were fascinated, moved, inspired and challenged by these novels, and we are pleased to announce that they have been included in the longlist for the Women’s Prize. “

The jury of 2021 consists of the chairman Bernardine Evaristo; Podcaster, writer, and journalist, Elizabeth Day; TV and radio host, journalist, and author Vick Hope; Print columnist and writer Nesrine Malik; and news presenter and broadcaster Sarah-Jane Mee. In a video posted on Twitter, the jury briefly talks about each of the books on the longlist and why they were selected.

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2021 women’s award for fiction longlist

Because of you from Dawn French

Avni Doshi roasted sugar

Approval from Annabel Lyon

Detransition, baby of Torrey Peters

Exciting times for Naoise Dolan

How the one-armed sister sweeps her house by Cherie Jones

Shine by Raven Leilani

Nobody talks about Patricia Lockwood about it

Nothing but blue skies by Kathleen MacMahon

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Little Pleasures from Clare Chambers

Summer by Ali Smith

Amanda Craig’s Golden Rule

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Transcendent Kingdom of Yaa Gyasi

Troubled ground by Claire Fuller

Check out last year’s nominees and winners:

Women’s award 2020 for fiction longlist

2020 Women’s Award for Fiction Shortlist

2020 women’s award for fiction winner