Released: The Orwell Prize for political writing – 2014 shortlist announced Embargoed for 12pm, 24 April 2014
6 Books and 7 Journalists announced for Orwell Prize Shortlist 2014
- Diverse Book Prize shortlist including Gaiutra Bahadur’s Coolie Woman and James Fergusson’s The World’s Most Dangerous Place - Journalism Prize shortlist includes The Telegraph journalist Mary Riddell and James Astill from The Economist. - Winners to be announced at an anniversary prize ceremony on May 21st
Shortlists for the Orwell Prize 2014, Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing, were announced at 12pm today. The shortlists consist of 6 books, chosen from 235 entries, and 7 journalists, chosen from 167 entries. The two £3000 prizes will be announced in a special 21st anniversary party on 21st May 2014.
Book Prize:
Gaiutra Bahadur, COOLIE WOMAN (Hurst) Frank Dikötter, THE TRAGEDY OF LIBERATION (Bloomsbury) James Fergusson, THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS PLACE (Bantam, Random House) David Goodhart, THE BRITISH DREAM (Atlantic) Alan Johnson, THIS BOY (Bantam, Random House) Charles Moore, MARGARET THATCHER: THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY (Penguin Allen Lane)
Jean Seaton, the director of the Orwell Prize, said ‘the shortlist demonstrates the continuing power and resonance of political history. Many of the authors in this shortlist are extremely close to their subjects, both intellectually and personally. This makes for compelling writing that we would be more poorly equipped without.’
The judges for the 2014 Book Prize are Sue MacGregor, Robert McCrum, and Trevor Phillips.
Journalism Prize:
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, The Guardian James Astill, The Economist Aditya Chakrabortty, The Guardian Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian AA Gill, The Sunday Times Gideon Rachman, Financial Times Mary Riddell, The Daily Telegraph
Jean Seaton, the director of the Orwell Prize, said ‘the judges kept coming back to the importance of good writing: this shortlist features journalism that hums with vivid language and clear thought. They were heartened by the adventurous and brave reporting put forward this year.’ The judges for the 2014 Journalism Prize are Paul Anderson, Robin Lustig, and Michael Parks.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The Orwell Prize is Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing. Every year, prizes are awarded to the book and journalism entry which comes closest to George Orwell’s ambition ‘to make political writing into an art’. Each Prize is worth £3000.
2. The Prize was founded by the late Professor Sir Bernard Crick in its present form in 1993, awarding its first prizes in 1994. It is run in partnership with the Media Standards Trust on behalf of the Council of the Orwell Prize. The Prize is supported by Political Quarterly, Media Standards Trust, Richard Blair (Orwell’s son) and A. M. Heath.
3. For further information, please visit our website, www.theorwellprize.co.uk or contact Edward Crane at [email protected] or 0207 848 7930.