The prestigious International Booker Prize gears up for another season of literary celebration as the panel of judges for 2024 is unveiled, according to a statement on thebookerprizes.com.
Led by the esteemed writer and broadcaster Eleanor Wachtel, the panel comprises a diverse array of talents, including award-winning poet Natalie Diaz, Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist Romesh Gunesekera, ground-breaking visual artist William Kentridge and acclaimed writer, editor and translator Aaron Robertson.
The 2024 judging panel will be looking for the best work of fiction translated into English, selected from entries published in the UK or Ireland between May 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024.
Judging is in progress and new entries are not being accepted.
International Booker Prize judgesThe winners’ prize purse is £50,000; £25,000 for the author and £25,000 for the translator (or divided equally between multiple translators). There will be a prize of £5,000 for each of the shortlisted titles: £2,500 for the author and £2,500 for the translator (or divided equally between multiple translators).
The longlist of 12 or 13 books will be announced on 11 March 2024 and the shortlist of six books on April 9. The winning title will be announced at a ceremony on May 21. The judges, tasked with identifying the finest voices from across the globe, will be on the lookout for narratives that transcend borders and illuminate the human experience.
Wachtel reflects on the profound impact of literature in bridging cultures and fostering a global community of readers. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Wachtel brings a wealth of experience to the judging panel, alongside her esteemed colleagues.
Fiammetta Rocco, Administrator of the International Booker Prize, underscores the prize’s growing influence, particularly among younger readers. With statistics revealing a significant demographic shift towards translated fiction, the International Booker Prize continues to captivate audiences worldwide, aided by its expanding reach on social media platforms. Data compiled by Nielsen for the Booker Prize Foundation highlights a notable trend, with readers under the age of 35 constituting nearly half of all purchases of translated fiction in the UK.
As the literary world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the International Booker Prize winner, the stage is set for another year of literary excellence and cross-cultural dialogue. With the judging panel poised to explore the myriad narratives that shape our understanding of the world, the 2024 edition of the prize promises to be a celebration of global storytelling at its finest.
