Five female writers shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize: a record in 55 years of history

The 2024 Booker Prize shortlist has made history by including the largest number of female authors in its 55-year history. For the first time ever, five female writers have been nominated, among the six shortlists, for the prestigious literary prize, which recognises outstanding works of fiction written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.

This year’s line-up also includes a notable first: the first Dutch author to be selected and the first Australian author in a decade. The diverse group also includes British, Canadian and American talent.

The five shortlisted writers are Samantha Harvey, Rachel Kushner, Anne Michaels, Yael van der Wouden and Charlotte Wood. The sixth shortlisted author is Percival Everett.

Booker Prize 2024 shortlist

‘Orbital’ by Samantha Harvey (UK): This novel follows six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) over a 24-hour period. Harvey set out to evoke the beauty of the human presence in low Earth orbit through a realistic lens, addressing the challenges of capturing awe and creating a “space pastoral.”

‘Creation Lake’ by Rachel Kushner (USA): A thriller centered on a woman who infiltrates a radical anarchist collective in rural France. Kushner, who was already shortlisted in 2018 for “The Mars Room,” continues to explore provocative themes in her writing.

‘Held’ by Anne Michaels (Canada): A family saga that reflects the memories of four generations. Michaels, known for her poetry and her award-winning novel “Fugitive Pieces,” delves into the complexities of family ties.

‘The Safekeep’ by Yael van der Wouden (Netherlands): This debut novel addresses the treatment of Jews in the Netherlands after the Nazi era, intertwined with a queer love story. Van der Wouden was inspired by his own short story about sibling dynamics and the complexities of national narratives.

‘Stone Yard Devotional’ by Charlotte Wood (Australia): The novel tells the story of a middle-aged woman seeking solace in a New South Wales convent. Wood is the first Australian author to be shortlisted since Richard Flanagan won the Booker Prize in 2014 for “The Narrow Road To The Deep North.”

‘James’ by Percival Everett (USA): A retelling of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” told from the perspective of runaway slave Jim. Everett’s previous novel, “Erasure,” was adapted into the film American Fiction, which earned director Cord Jefferson the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay earlier this year.

“Here is a narrative in which people confront the world in all its instability and complexity.”

We are delighted to reveal the Booker Prize 2024 Shortlist. Huge congratulations to all six authors.

➡️ Discover the list of finalists: https://t.co/3dQ2gnCtlG image.twitter.com/NLJrjGHZ9b

— The Booker Prizes (@TheBookerPrizes) September 16, 2024

What will the winners get?

Each shortlisted author will receive £2,500 (Rs 2.76 lakh) and a custom-bound edition of their book, and the winner will receive £50,000 (Rs 55.37 lakh) and a trophy named Iris (named after winner Iris Murdoch).

The judging panel for the 2024 Booker Prize was chaired by artist and author Edmund de Waal, and included novelist Sara Collins, musician Nitin Sawhney, The Guardian’s fiction editor Justine Jordan and writer Yiyun Li.

“Among other things, the shortlisted books explore the gravitational pull of home and family; the contested nature of truth and history; and the degree to which we reveal our true selves to others,” the book says. Booker Prize Statement.

Last year’s winner was Irish author Paul Lynch for his dystopian novel ‘Prophet Song’, which depicted a totalitarian Ireland.

The 2024 Booker Prize will be awarded on 12 November at Old Billingsgate in London, with the ceremony streamed live on the Booker Prizes YouTube and Instagram channels.