Dateline LBF: The Orange Prize Longlist

The preliminary list of notable names has been released by the Prize dedicated to the best of British fiction by women:

Kate Atkinson – Case Histories (British, 4th novel)

Clare Clark – The Great Stink (British, 1st novel)

Kira Cochrane – Escape Routes For Beginners (British, 2nd novel)

Joolz Denby – Billie Morgan (British, 3rd novel)

Anita Desai – The Zigzag Way (Indian, 14th novel)

Christine Dwyer Hickey – Tatty (Irish, 4th novel)

Patricia Ferguson – It So Happens (British, 4th novel)

Melanie Finn – Away From You (British, 1st novel)

Jane Gardam – Old Filth (British, 15th novel)

Sue Gee – The Mysteries Of Glass (British, 9th novel)

Miranda Hearn – Nelson’s Daughter (British, 2nd novel)

Ingrid Hill – Ursula, Under (American, 1st novel)

Sheri Holman – The Mammoth Cheese (American, 3rd novel)

Marina Lewycka – A Short History Of Tractors In Ukrainian (British, 1st novel)

Nell Leyshon – Black Dirt (British, 1st novel)

Michelle Lovric – The Remedy (British, 3rd novel)

Maile Meloy – Liars and Saints (American, 1st novel)

Joyce Carol Oates – The Falls (American, 5th novel)

Lionel Shriver – We Need To Talk About Kevin (American, 7th novel)

Tricia Wastvedt – The River (British, 1st novel)

It’s especially pleasing to see Shriver and Atkinson on the list, but I’ve also heard great things about URSULA, UNDER as well. The first article I’ve linked to concentrates more on Joolz Denby’s surprise nomination, as BILLIE MORGAN is, well, quite dark and noirish. Very cool.

The shortlist will be announced in April, and the winner in June.