Commonwealth Writers’ Prize nominees

The list of nominees for the 2008 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize sees a wonderful mix of authors from Britain and the subcontinent. The 12 short-listed authors include three Indians, two Pakistanis, and one Bangladeshi.

The Indian entries include David Davidar’s book, The Solitude of Emperors (see review in Dr Desi ), set amidst the flora and fauna of the Nilgiris, Indra Sinha’s Animal’s People, which is set against the background of post-Bhopal gas tragedy and which was also short-listed for the Booker, and Usha K. R.’s Girl and a River, a story dealing with five generations of women.

The Pakistani entry is Mohsin Hamid’s Booker short-listed book, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, where the narrative moves between America and Karachi (see review on Dr Desi ), and Shandana Minhas’ debut novel, Tunnel Vision, which captures the personal battles of a modern Pakistani woman.

Tahmima Anam’s A Golden Age, is the Bangladeshi entry. This first-time Bangladeshi author deals with the trauma of a mother’s ordeal that occurs due to the gaping gulf between the two Pakistans (Bangladesh was earlier known as East Pakistan).

British authors short-listed for the coveted prize are Hari Kunzru (My Revolutions), Nicholas Shakespeare (Secrets of the Sea), Priya Basil (Ishq and Mushq), Catherine O’Flynn (What was Lost), Jeremy Page (Salt) and J M Shaw (The Illumination of Merton Browne).

The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is organized and funded by the Commonwealth Foundation, an intergovernmental organization working in the 53 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. The Prize aims to encourage new Commonwealth fiction.

The 2007 Prize was won by Lloyd Jones for his novel, Mister Pip, an unforgettable tale of survival.

The winners of the 2008 Commonwealth Prize will be announced on 13 March 2008.