The Desmond Elliott Prize for New Fiction
The Desmond Elliott Prize, which aims to support new writers and to celebrate their fiction, was established in 2008 in honour of publisher and literary agent Desmond Elliott, one of the most charismatic and successful men in this field, who died in August 2003. He was best known as the man who persuaded Jilly Cooper to write novels.
To be eligible, the novel must be written in English and published in the UK. The prize is judged by a panel of three, who look for a novel with a compelling narrative, arresting character, and which is both vividly written and confidently realised. The winner is announced at a ceremony at Fortnum & Mason, Desmond Elliott's local grocer.
The 2013 judging panel is novelist Joanne Harris, Robert Collins, Deputy Literary Editor of The Sunday Times and Foyles' Head of Marketing, Miriam Robinson. The winner will be announced on 27th June.
Thursday 30th May: Desmond Elliott Prize event
To mark the announcement of the shortlst, you can hear authors recognised by the Prize reading from their books, revealing what inspires them and offering some first-hand tips on landing that elusive first book deal. Click here for more details and to book tickets.
Read our exclusive interview with 2012 winner Grace McCleen, in which she talks about how the Old Testament influenced her writing style, the changing nature of spirituality and why she choose the voice of a child.
2013 Shortlist
Gavin Extence A tale of an unexpected friendship, an unlikely hero and an improbable journey... This novel might just strike you as one of the funniest, most heartbreaking novels you've ever read. | Ros Barber An outstanding verse novel, which recreates the dramatic story of Christopher Marlowe's life and shows how he could have written the works attributed to Shakespeare - a provocative, persuasive and... |
Jenni Fagan Anais Hendricks, fifteen, is in the back of a police car, headed for the Panopticon, a home for chronic young offenders. She can't remember the events that led her here... | |
2013 Longlist
Previous Winners
2012 The Land of Decoration by Grace McCleen
2011 Saraswati Park by Anjali Joseph
2010 The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw
2009 Blackmoor by Edward Hogan
2008 Gifted by Nikita Lalwani