News
Wingate Literary Prize celebrates the best of Jewish writing
Judges praise the ‘breadth and depth’ of the current crop of Jewish writers
November 30, 2022 09:00
Judges praise the ‘breadth and depth’ of the current crop of Jewish writers
November 30, 2022 09:00The “breadth and depth of contemporary Jewish writing” has been praised in the long list for the 2022/23 Wingate Literary Prize, announced this week by judges.
The books chosen explore “a diverse range of important themes”, the judges said, including pogroms in early 20th century Ukraine, love in virtual worlds and unsung heroes. There is an equal split of fiction and non-fiction.
Now in its 46th year, the annual prize, worth £4,000 and run in association with Jewish community centre and arts venue JW3, is awarded to the best book - fiction or non-fiction - to convey the idea of Jewishness to the general reader.
Those listed include JC columnist Jonathan Freedland’s The Escape Artist.
Judging panel chair Dr Aviva Dautch, who is executive director of Jewish Renaissance, said: “After a warmly enjoyable, but also robust, discussion, we arrived at a long list which showcases the breadth and depth of contemporary Jewish writing: from well-researched reportage of previously little-known but urgently relevant historical events to intellectual enquiries into what it means to live in the modern world; from compelling memoirs to beautifully crafted and surprising fiction, told through sinuous literary prose.
“We selected the best books using the prize’s criteria but were delighted to find they were by writers from a diverse range of nationalities and backgrounds, including established names as well as exciting debuts.
“Sadly, we had to let some very deserving books go, but are confident that the twelve we have chosen merit a wide readership, bringing the nuanced complexities of Jewish experience to a general audience.”
Also on the panel of judges is Guggenheim Fellow and National Jewish Book Award winner George Prochnik, journalist, editor and author Sarah Shaffi and award-winning author Julie Cohen.
The long-listed books are:
The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland (John Murray, Hodder)
The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land by Omer Friedlander (John Murray, Hodder)
On Consolation by Michael Ignatieff (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
Come to this Court and Cry by Linda Kinstler (Bloomsbury Circus)
The Women of Rothschild by Natalie Livingstone (John Murray, Hodder)
Very Cold People by Sarah Manguso (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
The Island of Extraordinary Captives by Simon Parkin (Sceptre, Hodder)
The Memory Monster by Yishai Sarid. Translated by Yardenne Greenspan (Serpent’s Tail, Profile)
The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk. Translated by Jennifer Croft (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
In the Midst of Civilised Europe by Jeffrey Veidlinger (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
The Only Daughter by AB Yehoshua. Translated by Stuart Schoffman (Halban)
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Chatto, Penguin Random House)
The shortlist will be announced in January next year and the winner will be announced in March.