Now in its 25th year and supported by the Macquarie Group Foundation, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is unique in offering both established and emerging writers the opportunity to showcase their work.
After months of anticipation, they will compete with other regional winners from Africa, Caribbean and Canada, and South East Asia and Pacific for the overall Best Book and Best First Book prizes. The winners will take part in the final programme of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize which takes place at Sydney Writers’ Festival (16-22 May). The overall winners of Best Book and Best First Book will be announced on 21 May.
For the last 25 years the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize has played a key role in unearthing new international literary names, bringing compelling stories of human experience to a wider audience. Winners of this year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize will follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest UK names in fiction, including Andrea Levy, Ian McEwan, Caryl Phillips and Zadie Smith.
Commenting, Vijay Krishnarayan, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, said: “The level of entries in this year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize has been absolutely outstanding and the competition is fierce. I would like to congratulate David Mitchell and Mischa Hiller in getting through to the final stage and look forward to them joining us in Sydney for the final programme. Now in its 25th year the Prize continues to identify and promote the best of Commonwealth fiction written in English and in doing so helps to create new literary icons across the Commonwealth.”
David Clarke, Chairman of the Macquarie Group Foundation, the supporter of the Prize, added: "The regional judging panel has made a discerning choice recognising David Mitchell and Mischa Hiller from South Asia and Europe as the local finalists in the 2011 Commonwealth Writers' Prize, from the shortlisted pool of talented new and established authors. Both of the books chosen are powerful examples of first class storytelling."
Muneeza Shamsie, South Asia and Europe Regional Chair, said of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet: “The judges thought that all the shortlisted books were epic in scope and revolved around telling cultural encounters; these were 'big books' which dealt with dilemmas of historical change and the individual's struggle to survive. The final choice of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet was due to its combination of bold ambition and minute detail and the way in which the novel juxtaposes different cultures – Dutch, Japanese, British – at a particular juncture of world history, as the eighteenth century ends and the nineteenth century begins.”
Of Sabra Zoo, Muneeza Shamsie added: "The judges considered all the shortlisted books to be very diverse in subject matter and form, and they provided valuable insights into many different societies. Sabra Zoo was chosen for its understated but powerful portrayal of a harrowing episode in recent times. The portrayal of a young man's discovery of self, against the backdrop of social and political turmoil is recreated with great skill."