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Guardian picks best first books

01.11.07 Anna Richardson

Samuel Johnson Prize-winner Rajiv Chandrasekaran is in line for another high-profile award, as his Imperial Life in the Emerald City (Bloomsbury) has secured a spot on the Guardian First Book Award shortlist.

Announced today (1st November), the shortlist also contains A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam (John Murray), Children of the Revolution by Dinaw Mengestu (Cape), God’s Architect: Pugin and the Building of Romantic Britain by Rosemary Hill (Allen Lane) and What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn (Tindal Street). O’Flynn’s novel was longlisted for both the Man Booker and Orange Broadband prizes.

The Guardian award, which recognises new writing from first-time authors of all genres, is judged both by a panel chaired by Guardian literary editor Claire Armitstead, and members of Waterstone’s reading groups. The groups will run across seven stores—Islington, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff, Nottingham, Oxford and Norwich—and Stuart Broom of Waterstone’s will represent their views on the panel.

The winner will be announced in early December, and will receive a prize of £10,000 and coverage in the Guardian and Observer.

Media Anna Richardson Guardian Prize

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