Chimamanda Adichie’s ‘Americanah’ shortlisted for IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award

Ten novels have been shortlisted for the 20th International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award, managed by Dublin City Libraries.

The list includes Americanah by Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, three novels in translation from Brazil, France and Morocco and novels from Australia, Ireland, the UK, and the USA.

The IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award, an initiative of Dublin City Council, is worth €100,000 (about $148,000) to the winner and is the world’s most valuable annual literary award for a single work of fiction published in English. The award was launched on April 7l 1995, making this year our 20th anniversary.

The shortlisted titles are:

• Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigerian) Published by Fourth Estate and by Alfred A. Knopf.
• Horses of God by Mahi Binebine (Moroccan) Translated from French by Lulu Norman. Published by Tin House Books.
• Harvest by Jim Crace (British) Published by Picador and by Alfred A. Knopf.
• The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan (Australian) Published by Vintage Australia.
• Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (Australian) First Novel.  Published by Little, Brown & Company and by Picador Australia.
• K by Bernardo Kucinski (Brazilian) Translated from Portuguese by Sue Branford. Published by Latin American Bureau.
• Brief Loves That Live Forever by Andreï Makine (French, Russian-born) Translated from French by Geoffrey Strachan. Published by MacLehose Press.
• TransAtlantic by Colum McCann (Irish) Published by Bloomsbury Publishing, Random House Inc. and HarperCollins Canada.
• Someone by Alice McDermott (American) Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
• Sparta by Roxana Robinson (American) Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

“The titles on this year’s shortlist were nominated by public libraries in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA”, said Lord Mayor Christy Burke, Patron of the Award. “This is a list of high quality literature with three novels in translation which might not otherwise be brought to the attention of readers. I am delighted to see a Dubliner’s name included on the list – Colum McCann.”

“The 20th winner will be chosen from this intriguing international shortlist which includes four women writers. The novels come from Africa, America, Australia, Brazil, France, Ireland and the UK” said Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian,

“While many of the stories reflect contemporary themes, they bring us characters facing timeless challenges of love and loss, of innocence and isolation. These engaging stories are set against contrasting landscapes which include Brooklyn, Iceland and Lagos. “

One of the shortlisted authors is a previous winner. Colum McCann won the prize in 2011 for his novel Let the Great World Spin.

The five member international judging panel, chaired by Hon. Eugene R. Sullivan, will select one winner which will be announced by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Patron of the Award, Christy Burke, on the morning of Wednesday June 17

The Lord Mayor reminded Dubliners that they can borrow the shortlisted novels from Dublin City Public Libraries. “Readers have plenty of time to pick their own favourite between now and June 17, when I announce the winner”, he said.