Authors from seven different countries make the final of Commonwealth Writers’ Prize

The eight books by authors from seven different countries across four regions of the Commonwealth will now go head-to head to win the global prizes for best book and best first book at the final stage of the competition in April.

Chair of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, Justice Nicholas Hasluck, said:

“The incredible diversity of this year’s regional winners is testimony yet again that the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is the most exciting literary prize around.

“Taking just four of the eight books, we have a searing indictment from Nigeria of societies that reward corruption; an exhilarating tale from Samoa chronicling the life of a goddess of war; from a British, Delhi-based writer, an innovative novel of a blind 100-year old Bulgarian; and the story of a refugee family struggling to make their way in rural Canada.”

The regional prize winners of the competition, organised and funded by the Commonwealth Foundation with support from the Macquarie Group Foundation, are:

Best First Book

• Adaobi Tricia Nwaubeni (Nigeria) - I Do Not Come to You by Chance
• Shandi Mitchell (Canada) - Under This Unbroken Sky
• Daniyal Mueenuddin (Pakistan) - In Other Rooms, Other Wonders
• Glenda Guest (Australia) - Siddon Rock

Best Book

• Marie Heese (South Africa) - The Double Crown
• Michael Crummey (Canada) - Galore
• Rana Dasgupta (UK) – Solo
• Albert Wendt (Samoa) - The Adventures of Vela

Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Mark Collins, said: “These compelling works that have reached the final stage offer strong insight, spirit and voice about the incredible diversity, history and life of the Commonwealth.”

Now in its 24th year, the critically acclaimed Commonwealth Writers’ Prize has a strong track record of discovering new international stars. Some of the biggest names in fiction to have been recognised by the prize, include Michael Ondaatje, Salman Rushdie and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The overall winners for this year’s Best Book and Best First Book, written in English, will be announced in Delhi, India, on 12 April.

Last year’s Best Book Prize went to Australian writer Christos Tsiolkas for The Slap. The Best First Book Prize winner was Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif for A Case of Exploding Mangoes.

For information on this year’s eight regional winners, visit the website http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/

The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental body working to help civil society organisations promote democracy, development and cultural understanding in Commonwealth countries.

The Macquarie Group Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Macquarie Group Limited, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and fund management services.