Wales Book of the Year 2008 Long List
Ten top titles announced
The Wales Book of the Year 2008 Long List was announced on Wednesday 12 March 2008 by Academi as part of World Book Day Celebrations. Guests at two simultaneous launches – one at the Atrium in Cardiff and the other at Wrexham Library – were the first to hear which 10 titles made the grade out of all of the eligible books published in 2007. The judges are Mavis Nicholson, Damian Walford Davies and Trevor Fishlock.
The English-language list consists of a diverse collection of voices, techniques and genre. These ten books represent the work of some our best known authors as well as major new talents.
Loss, grief and love are the themes of the remarkable memoir from one of Britain’s most distinguished poets, Dannie Abse. One of Wales’ most respected literary figures, John Barnie presents us with a collection of poems, and authors Malcolm Pryce, Kitty Harri, Trezza Azzopardi and Tessa Hadley make their mark on the list with their significant novels. The Long List also features work by up and coming writers Carys Davies, Tom Bullough and Robert Lewis, as well as the widely acclaimed memoir, Blue Sky July by Nia Wyn.
Peter Finch, Academi Chief Executive said: “The annual Wales Book of the Year Awards spotlight the great talent we have in Wales. This year is no exception.”
Damian Walford Davies of the English-language judges said: “We’re confident that the books we’ve chosen represent the best writing of 2007, from pared-down, resonant short stories to hard-hitting portrayals. These great writers represent a diverse spectrum of Welsh literary talent”.
On Monday 26 May 2008, the ten will become three when the Short List is announced at the Hay Festival. Then on to Tuesday 1 July and the glittering ceremony in the Hilton Hotel, Cardiff where each language winner will receive a cheque for £10,000 and four runners-up will receive £1,000 each.
The Wales Book of the Year Prize is administered by Academi, and funded by the Arts Council of Wales through its income from the Welsh Assembly Government. Dai Smith, Arts Council of Wales Chair said: "The written word, in both our languages and across all genres seems to be as powerful as ever. In Wales, literature is our prime and lasting expression as the exciting Long List for Book of the Year underlines."
The World Book Day events are supported by the Welsh Books Council.
BOOK OF THE YEAR 2008 LONG LIST
Trezza Azzopardi, Winterton Blue (Picador)
Kitty Harri, Hector’s Talent for Miracles (Honno)
Malcolm Pryce, Don’t Cry For Me Aberystwyth (Bloomsbury)
Tom Bullough, The Claude Glass (Sort Of Books)
Robert Lewis, Swansea Terminal (Serpent’s Tail)
Nia Wyn, Blue Sky July (Seren)
John Barnie, Trouble in Heaven (Gomer)
Carys Davies, Some New Ambush (Salt Publishing)
Dannie Abse, The Presence (Hutchinson)
Tessa Hadley, The Master Bedroom (Jonathan Cape)
The writers on the Welsh-language Long List are Caryl Lewis, Elin Llwyd Morgan, Tony Bianchi, Gwyn Jenkins, Alan Llwyd, Richard Wyn Jones, Gareth Miles, Iwan Llwyd, Llwyd Owen and Ceri Wyn Jones.
The judges on the Welsh-language panel are Siân Thomas, Huw Meirion Edwards and Aled Islwyn.