Caleb Azumah Nelson has clinched the prestigious Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for his novel Small Worlds, per bbc.com. The award, announced at Swansea’s Taliesin Arts Centre on Thursday night, celebrates the best published literary work in the English language by authors aged 39 or under.
The British-Ghanaian author, 30, expressed his surprise at receiving the £20,000 prize. “I felt strangely calm before the show and now I’m just really in a total state of shock,” he remarked. “It’s really exciting to be here.” He planned to share the news first with his mother.
The Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, established in 2006, honours the legacy of Swansea-born poet Dylan Thomas, who died at 39 in 1953. Nelson’s Small Worlds, his second novel, explores the intricate dynamics of a father-son relationship set against the contrasting backdrops of London and Ghana.
Chair of the 2024 judges, Namita Gokhale, praised the novel as “viscerally moving and heartfelt with deeply realised characters.”
And here is what thelagosreview.ng had to say about the book:
The shortlist for this year’s prize included a diverse array of works: A Spell of Good Things by Ayòbámi Adébáyò (Nigeria), The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore (England), Bright Fear by Mary Jean Chan (Hong Kong), Local Fires by Joshua Jones (Wales) and Biography of X by Catherine Lacey (US).
Among the finalists, Joshua Jones, author of the short story collection Local Fires, shared his relief at the conclusion of the anxious wait. “It’s the biggest thing that’s happened to me in terms of my writing career and it is just incredible to be part of the experience,” he said.
The event featured readings from each of the shortlisted authors, showcasing a rich tapestry of voices and stories that captivated the audience.
•Featured image shows Caleb Azumah Nelson at the event/Swansea University
