Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2015 Shortlist announced

It feels like there's a different prize every week at the moment, doesn't it? One day it's for the best debut novel, the next it's the best non-fiction, today it's the turn of one of the big ones. The 2015 Baileys Prize for Fiction shortlist was announced this evening at the kind of affair the book industry does best. There was wine, lots of networking disguised as catching up with each other, one person in the corner drinking beer who clearly didn't get the memo about the wine, and more wine. And lots of Baileys. Nobody throws a launch night like publishing.

The six shortlisted titles were revealed by this year’s Chair of Judges, Shami Chakrabarti and include five previously nominated and one debut author.

Amongst the books nominated are two Waterstones Book Club picks. Debut novel The Bees by Laline Paull (who earlier this year wrote about her inspiration for the book) and A God in Every Stone from Kamila Shamsie. There was also the book that seems to be on every shortlist this year, the Folio Prize and Man Booker nominated How to be Both by Ali Smith.

The six books making up the shortlist are:

Outline by Rachel Cusk (Extract)

The Bees by Laline Paull (Extract)

A God in Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie (Extract)

How to be Both by Ali Smith (Extract)

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters (Extract)

“You've heard of fantasy football? Well, short-listing for the 20015 Baileys Prize was the fantasy book club of a lifetime,” said Shami Chakrabarti, Chair of judges. “My fellow judges represent the best of British journalism, comment, literature and activism and our deliberations were heart-rendingly difficult but always as warm and collaborative as they were robust.” 

She added, “The novels we shared and the shortlist we ultimately honour form a body of great women’s writing to entertain and inspire for many years to come."

The winner will be announced on 3 June. There will be wine. And Baileys.