Literature Wales announced the six titles on the Wales Book of the Year 2011 Short List at two simultaneous events held at Galeri, Caernarfon and the Espresso Bar at John Lewis, Cardiff on Thursday 19 May 2011.
The short list this year consists of a poetry collection based on the painting of Frida Kahlo, a travel novel taking us through the Inca Trail and a far-future sci-fi novel, all chosen by judges Francesca Rhydderch (Chair), Deborah Kay Davies and Jon Gower.
The titles on the 2011 Short List are: What the Water Gave Me by Pascale Petit (Seren, 2010); Cloud Road by John Harrison (Parthian 2010); and Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz, 2010). The three titles on the Welsh-language short list were also announced.
Francesca Rhydderch, Chair of the English judges’ panel said:
‘Whittling the long list down from ten to a shortlist of three was no easy task. Each of the ten books on the longlist was wonderful and unique, in our opinion. In the end, though, the three titles that made it to the shortlist claimed their place there because they were pitch perfect from start to finish: their authors exerted an artistic control over their work (in three very different genres) that was supremely impressive.’
Peter Finch, Chief Executive of Literature Wales commented:
‘The Wales Book of the Year Award once again picks the best we have. Six books in contention and every one a must read. Start now.’
Pascale Petit was born in Paris, grew up in France and Wales and lives in London. The poems in her short-listed collection, What the Water Gave Me, are spoken in the voice of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and bear the titles of her paintings.
Fiction and travel writer John Harrison works as a freelance writer, guide and lecturer. In Cloud Road: A Journey Through the Inca Heartland John Harrison journeys for five months through a secret country, walking alone into remote villages where he is the first gringo the inhabitants have ever seen, and where life continues as if Columbus had never sailed.
Alastair Reynolds was born in Barry and, having spent his early childhood in Cornwall, moved back to Wales at the age of eight. Terminal World has been described as a ‘snarling, drooling, crazy-eyes mongrel of a book, equal part steampunk, Western, planetary romance and far-future SF’.
The shortlist for the Welsh-language Award is: Caersaint by Angharad Price (Y Lolfa, 2010); Lladd Duw by Dewi Prysor (Y Lolfa, 2010); and Bydoedd by Ned Thomas (Y Lolfa, 2010).
The Welsh-language judges are Simon Brooks, Gerwyn Williams and Kate Crockett.
The winners will be announced on Thursday 7 July 2011 at a ceremony in Cineworld, Cardiff. Both winners – one in Welsh and one in English – will recieve £10,000 each and all four runners up will recieve £1,000.
The ceremony has been tranformed this year – Oscars style entertainment will be in the form of Wales’ younger version of Only Men Aloud – Bois yr Ysgol Gerdd, and the after show entertainment will be provided by DJs The Vinyl Vendettas.
A limited number of tickets will be available to the public – contact Literature Wales to order your tickets: 029 2047 2266 / [email protected]
Wales Book of The Year is Administrated by Literature Wales and funded by the Arts Council of Wales.
