A new literary prize honouring the late Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney has announced its first shortlist.
The PEN Heaney Prize, a joint initiative of English PEN and Irish PEN, recognises outstanding poetry that engages with the impact of cultural or political events on human experience.
The six shortlisted titles, chosen by a panel of distinguished judges, represent a diverse range of poetic voices and styles. The winner will be announced on December 2nd at a ceremony in Belfast.
The shortlist includes:
* Isdal by Susannah Dickey
* The Coming Thing by Martina Evans
* Hyena! by Fran Lock
* Blood Feather by Patrick McGuinness
* We Play Here by Dawn Watson
* A Tower Built Downwards by Yang Lian, translated by Brian Holton
The PEN Heaney Prize aims to celebrate the enduring power of poetry to illuminate the human condition and inspire social change.
•Featured image: Seamus Heaney/English PEN
