At the British Book awards, Bernadine
Evaristo, a Nigerian-British writer, was named the author of the year, the
first black writer ever to win the category.
Evaristo, a Nigerian-British writer, was named the author of the year, the
first black writer ever to win the category.
The British Book awards, also known as
the Nibbies, are produced by Bookseller, the UK ‘s book trade magazine.
the Nibbies, are produced by Bookseller, the UK ‘s book trade magazine.
Evaristo also won a fiction category,
winning the prize in front of her colleague booker, Margaret Atwood, renowned
Canadian writer “The Testaments.” Evaristo, who won last-year book
award for his polyphonic novel ‘Girl, Woman, Other’
winning the prize in front of her colleague booker, Margaret Atwood, renowned
Canadian writer “The Testaments.” Evaristo, who won last-year book
award for his polyphonic novel ‘Girl, Woman, Other’
The Nigerian novelist became the first
black woman in the UK to top the fiction paperback chart last month, which she
called a surreal development.
black woman in the UK to top the fiction paperback chart last month, which she
called a surreal development.
This was after a widespread criticism
of UK publishing industry of having biases against black and Asian writers
against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement.
of UK publishing industry of having biases against black and Asian writers
against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I’ve been writing for a very long
time, and it’s incredibly gratifying to know that my work is finally reaching a
wider readership. It’s also fantastic to see so many other books by writers of
colour storming the charts.
time, and it’s incredibly gratifying to know that my work is finally reaching a
wider readership. It’s also fantastic to see so many other books by writers of
colour storming the charts.
“I’m pretty sure this is
unprecedented. Of course, this has been triggered by the tragedy of George
Floyd’s death and we should always remember that.”
unprecedented. Of course, this has been triggered by the tragedy of George
Floyd’s death and we should always remember that.”
Ms Evaristo is a signatory to an open
letter from a newly formed Black Writers’ Guild which is calling for sweeping
change in the British publishing industry. Publishers are “definitely listening
to us today.” she qas quoted as saying.
letter from a newly formed Black Writers’ Guild which is calling for sweeping
change in the British publishing industry. Publishers are “definitely listening
to us today.” she qas quoted as saying.
