Fiction Uncovered announces 2015 longlist

For the first time, the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize announced an initial longlist of fifteen books. Designed to showcase the breadth and vibrancy of British writing today, for 2015 fifteen books will be whittled down to eight and announced at a glitzy awards ceremony in London.

Now in its fifth year, the Prize aims to celebrate great British fiction and awards a group of eight writers with £5,000 each.

The longlisted books are below and, the eagle-eyed amongst you, will spot The Incarnations, selected as part of our current Waterstones Book Club:

• The Incarnations – Susan Barker
• The Stray American – Wendy Brandmark
• The Redemption of Galen Pike – Carys Davies
• Dear Thief – Samantha Harvey
• Wittgenstein Jr – Lars Iyer
• The Way Out – Vicki Jarrett
• The Offering – Grace McCleen
• The Spice Box Letters – Eve Makis
• Significance – Jo Mazelis
• Beastings – Benjamin Myers
• The Four Marys – Jean Rafferty
• Mother Island – Bethan Roberts
• A Man Lies Dreaming – Lavie Tidhar
• Animals – Emma Jane Unsworth
• Mobile Library – David Whitehouse

Announcing the longlist, chair of judges India Knight said:

“It is absolutely thrilling to have found such brilliant books, across such a wide variety of genres, and from authors that live and write all over the country. These are fantastic writers who deserve to be household names.”

On the decision to release the longlist for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize for the first time this year, prize Founder and Director Sophie Rochester said:

“With writers from Swansea, Newcastle upon Tyne, Bath, Brighton, Lancaster, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Glasgow and London, and publishers from Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland and Norfolk, this year’s longlist presents an exciting snapshot of contemporary British fiction writing and publishing.”

Joining India Knight on the judging panel this year are Matt Bates from WH Smith Travel, Cathy Galvin from Word Factory/Newsweek and journalist and blogger Simon Savidge. 

The final eight winners will be announced on Thursday 18 June at a party at the Jerwood Space, London.