The 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction has announced its shortlist, revealing six extraordinary novels that explore the complexities of the human condition. This year’s selection is celebrated for its rich depiction of personal transformation, the enduring impacts of trauma, and the intersectional experiences of migrants.

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The shortlisted novels offer a diverse panorama of stories, ranging from intimate portrayals of family life to grand narratives that travel across history and geopolitics, yet they all maintain a focus on women’s unique perspectives and experiences. The themes of identity, resilience, and the legacies of the past are dotted across the works, providing a moving look at the challenges and triumphs faced by women across various backdrops.

Monica Ali, the chair of the judges for this year’s prize, expressed her enthusiasm for the shortlist: “This year’s shortlist features six brilliant, thought-provoking and spellbinding novels that between them capture an enormous breadth of the human experience. Readers will be captivated by the characters, the luminous writing and the exquisite storytelling. Each book is gloriously compelling and inventive and lingers in the heart and mind long after the final page.”

The Women’s Prize for Fiction 2024 shortlist

• “The Wren, The Wren” by Anne Enright, published by Jonathan Cape
• “Brotherless Night” by V. V. Ganeshananthan, published by Viking
• “Restless Dolly Maunder” by Kate Grenville, published by Canongate Books
• “Enter Ghost” by Isabella Hammad, published by Jonathan Cape
• “Soldier Sailor” by Claire Kilroy, published by Faber & Faber
• “River East, River West” by Aube Rey Lescure, published by Duckworth

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Each of these novels promises a unique and immersive reading experience, emphasizing the power of narrative to reflect and reshape our understanding of the world around us.

The Prize, inaugurated in 1996, was created to address and correct the disparities in “coverage, respect and reverence” accorded to female authors compared to their male counterparts.

Awarded every year, the Prize honours the author of the most outstanding full-length novel written in English and released in the UK within the year. The recipient is bestowed with a £30,000 prize, generously provided by an anonymous benefactor, along with the ‘Bessie’, a distinctive bronze statuette crafted by artist Grizel Niven. The final ceremony will be held on June 13th.