Hosted by Literature Wales
I would like to share with you a list of the recently announced Wales Book of the Year 2019 shortlist for English and Welsh-language books.
After spending several months wading through titles published in Wales during 2018, two independent judging panels finally selected nine works for each language in the categories of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction.
Lleucu Siencyn, the chief executive of Literature Wales, was quoted in Cardiff University News as saying: “These exceptional titles encourage readers to explore and consider some of life’s biggest questions. Mental health and identity – both personal and national – flow through these selections. This is contemporary Welsh writing at its very finest.”
The winners will be announced at an Award Ceremony held at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Thursday 20th June.
THE ROLAND MATHIAS POETRY AWARD
Insistence, Ailbhe Darcy (Bloodaxe Books Ltd.)
Salacia, Mari Ellis Dunning (Parthian Books)
Gen, Jonathan Edwards (Seren)
ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY FICTION AWARD
Arrest Me, for I Have Run Away, Stevie Davies (Parthian Books)
West, Carys Davies (Granta Publications)
Sal, Mick Kitson (Canongate Books)
THE CREATIVE NON-FICTION AWARD
Moneyland, Oliver Bullough (Profile Books)
The light in the dark: A winter journal, Horatio Clare (Elliott & Thompson)
Having a go at the Kaiser: A Welsh family at war, Gethin Matthews (University of Wales Press)
The English-language judges for this prestigious award are poet Sandeep Parmar, Louise Holmwood Marshall of Aberystwyth University, and novelist and professor Russell Celyn Jones.
THE WELSH-LANGUAGE POETRY AWARD
GWOBR FARDDONIAETH
Twt Lol, Emyr Lewis (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch)
Cyrraedd a cherddi eraill, Alan Llwyd (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
Stafell fy Haul, Manon Rhys (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)
THE WELSH-LANGUAGE FICTION AWARD
GWOBR FFUGLEN PRIFYSGOL ABERYSTWYTH
Ynys Fadog, Jerry Hunter (Y Lolfa)
Llyfr Glas Nebo, Manon Steffan Ros (Y Lolfa)
Esgyrn, Heiddwen Thomas (Y Lolfa)
THE WELSH-LANGUAGE CREATIVE NON-FICTION AWARD
GWOBR FFEITHIOL- GREADIGOL
Cymru mewn 100 Gwrthrych, Andrew Green (Gwasg Gomer)
Y Gymru ‘Ddu’ a’r Ddalen ‘Wen’: Aralledd ac Amlddiwylliannedd mewn Ffuglen Gymreig, er 1990, Lisa Sheppard (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)
Rhyddhau’r Cranc, Malan Wilkinson (Y Lolfa)
The judges for this award in the Welsh-language are poet and former winner, Idris Reynolds, broadcaster and author Dylan Ebenezer and Cathryn Charnell-White of Aberystwyth University.
The awards ceremony for the competition includes a people’s choice winner in both languages.
Categories: Literary Awards
Carys Davies’s West seems to be everywhere – I’ll have to check it out.
Yes, I’m thinking of reading that one, too.
If it’s half as good as her short story collection – and I’m told it is – then this is definitely one to read. I have my copy already, just need the time to get around to it…
I keep meaning to get to the H Clare as I’ve loved another book by him plus my husband suffers from SAD and I thought it might be inspiring for him.
I’ve always thought that humans should go into semi hibernation during the winter months. A nice cozy den with lots of books and tasty things to eat. Personally I would emerge with the daffodils in spring! 🌞
I’m delighted to see West on the list for the fiction award. Such a compelling story with a palpable sense of place.
This is one I would very much like to read.
Did you see that children’s author Catherine Fisher won the Tir na n-Og Award with The Clockwork Crow last night, Paula?
Yes, I spotted that on Literature Wales’ site. Have you read The Clockwork Crow, Anne?
I’ve Horatio Clare’s book but the rest are new to me. Time to do a little digging I think 🙂
I’d love to know what you think of The light in the dark, Sandra. 😊
Paula, I’ve waited a few days to reply, trying to get my thoughts together in response to this book. In a one-word answer my response to the book would be ‘disappointing’. But there are caveats to that. So many, that having started a reply to you here, it seems I have more to say than I thought and I feel it only fair to give it its own post! 😀 Yet another one waiting in the queue! Thankfully, I seem to be on a roll at the moment so it will be out very soon. (As will the backlog of dewithon posts I hope! 😉 )
Thank you so much Sandra for your considered response. I’m a great believer in that old saying about the best things in life being worth waiting for… So, in addition to Dewithon posts I can now look forward to your piece about Horatio Clare’s book. 😃