The shortlist for the 2025 Gordon Burn Prize has been unveiled, showcasing six groundbreaking works that challenge literary boundaries and explore profound human experiences, per culturednortheast.co.uk.
The £10,000 prize, honouring the legacy of Newcastle-born author Gordon Burn, has identified an extraordinary collection of books that push the limits of storytelling. With five of the six shortlisted authors being women, the list represents a powerful cross-section of contemporary literary talent.
This year’s contenders represent a remarkable diversity of narratives. Rita Bullwinkel’s Headshot offers an intense exploration of female boxers, while Jenni Fagan’s Ootlin provides a raw, personal account of her experiences in the care system. Emma Glass’s Mrs Jekyll reimagines a classic narrative through the lens of terminal illness, presenting a devastating contemporary interpretation.
The shortlist also features unique collaborative and investigative works. Poor Artists by art critics Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad (known as The White Pube) promises a surreal journey through the art world. Tom Newlands’ debut Only Here, Only Now explores aspirational dreams in a coastal town, while Lucia Osborne-Crowley’s The Lasting Harm offers a critical examination of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.
Prize chair Terri White eloquently described the shortlist as works that “bump up against the limits not just of fiction and non-fiction,” emphasising their potential to challenge readers’ perceptions and expand literary horizons.
Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, highlighted the collection’s thematic depth, noting the list’s exploration of “trauma, power and art” through diverse perspectives.
The winner will be announced on March 6 at a public event at Newcastle’s Northern Stage, continuing the prize’s tradition of celebrating innovative and boundary-pushing literature. Beyond the substantial cash prize, the victor will also receive a coveted writing retreat at Gordon Burn’s cottage in Berwickshire.
- Featured image! Clockwise from top left: Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad, aka White Pube; Tom Newlands, Rita Bullwinkel, Jenni Fagan, Emma Glass and Lucia Osborne-Crowley
