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University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize Announces Longlist

The University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize, one of the largest of its kind for young writers, has recently announced its 2010 longlist.

The panel, which is once again chaired by Hay Literature Festival founder Peter Florence, has selected a longlist of 16 literary works, which includes poetry, novels and a play. Spanning four continents, the selected writers hail from as far afield as Canada, New Zealand, the USA, South Africa and Somalia, along with five from the UK.

English poet Caroline Bird, now aged 23, who was shortlisted for the 2008 University of Wales Dylan Thomas Prize, is once again in contention for the award with her third collection of poems, Watering Can. 27-year-old American Army Ranger, Johnny Meyer, is the first ever playwright to make the Prize’s longlist with American Volunteers, which is based in Afghanistan and draws upon his firsthand experiences. Nadifa Mohamed, from Somalia, has cited Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood as inspiration for her longlisted novel Black Mamba Boy. The sixteen literary works cover a range of topics, from divorce, love, relationships, war and racism. In her debut novel, The Rehearsal, New Zealander Eleanor Catton explores the controversial topic of an affair between a high school girl and her teacher.

The prize is sponsored by the University of Wales and awarded annually, honours the internationally esteemed works of Dylan Thomas, and is open to any published writer in the English language under the age of thirty.

In addition to Peter Florence and renowned actress Kate Burton, the 2010 judging panel includes Kurt Heinzelman, Professor of English at the University of Texas and a founding Board member of the Dylan Thomas Prize and a judge in both 2006 and 2008; Cardiff-born Gwyneth Lewis (pictured above right), the award winning poet and journalist who was named as the first National Poet of Wales; Bruno Maddox, novelist and former reviewer for The New York Times and Editor-in-chief of Spy magazine; Natalie Moody, Chair of charitable organisation The Howard Gilman Foundation and Professor Peter Stead (pictured above left), prize founder, historian, renowned broadcaster and cultural commentator.

 On the longlist selection, prize founder Professor Peter Stead commented:

“The calibre of these sixteen works is outstanding. This unique Prize was established to celebrate young, talented writers worldwide and these works aptly showcase the excellence of creative writing that exists across the entire English-speaking world. This award honours a truly great writer who died while still a young man and I am sure it will be a great encouragement to talented young writers everywhere.”

Professor Marc Clement, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales, said:

“The University is extremely pleased to continue sponsoring the Dylan Thomas Prize. Its emphasis on encouraging young and emerging talent from all parts of the world is an exact reflection of the ethos of the University of Wales, and the excellent programme of educational activities associated with the Prize will help to spur on the next generation of potential writers in Wales.”

The shortlist for the 2010 prize will be announced this September.

For more information on the prize and to view the complete longlist,
please click here.