2011 Orange Prize longlist announced

Thu, 03/17/2011 - 10:11am by sernabad

The Orange Prize for Fiction committee announced its longlist for 2011.

Launched in 1996, after years of hard work and brainstorming by a group of booksellers, librarians, journalists, reviewers, agents, and publishers, the Orange Prize celebrates literary fiction by women from all over the world.

This year's judges, who include Tracy Chevalier (Girl with a Pearl Earring, 2000), really have their hands full. The list is rich with high profile women authors. Among those listed are:

Twenty-five-year old phenom, Tea Obreht for The Tiger's Wife. Born in the former Yugoslavia, Obreht emigrated to the U.S. in 1997, learned English by watching Disney movies, and has now earned rave after rave review for her first novel which is narrated by Natalia, a young Balkans doctor who learns of the death of her grandfather. Natalia sets out on a journey to retrieve a package he has left for her.

Also on the list is the much lauded Irish author, Emma Donoghue for Room, her chilling story about five-year old Jack whose young, resilient mother is a kidnap and rape victim. After years of captivity, "Ma" plots their escape.

The Orange Prize shortlist will be announced April 12th. The winner will be revealed at an awards dinner in London on June 8th.