2024 Booker Prize Longlist Features Diverse Voices and Themes of Belonging
- The Booker Prize has announced its longlist for this year's fiction award, showcasing 13 diverse titles.
- The longlist includes notable authors like Richard Powers and Percival Everett, as well as several debut writers.
- With themes revolving around belonging and displacement, the selections reflect contemporary literary interests.
The longlist for the 2024 Booker Prize has been announced, showcasing 13 novels that explore themes of belonging, displacement, and return. Among the notable authors are British writers Sarah Perry and Samantha Harvey, alongside the first Dutch and Native American nominees. Chair of the judges, Edmund de Waal, emphasized that while the longlist reflects the "precarity of lives," the selected works transcend mere issue-driven narratives. American author Percival Everett makes a return to the longlist with his novel *James*, a reimagining of Mark Twain’s *Huckleberry Finn* from the perspective of Jim. British-Libyan writer Hisham Matar is recognized for *My Friends*, which tells the story of two Libyan students amidst a violent protest. Canadian-American Claire Messud’s *This Strange Eventful History* is also included, alongside Rita Bullwinkel’s *Headshot*, which delves into the world of amateur girls’ boxing. Irish author Colin Barrett debuts with *Wild Houses*, a darkly comic thriller, while Tommy Orange makes history as the first Native American longlisted author with *Wandering Stars*, a narrative that spans centuries and addresses themes of displacement. Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, expressed the panel's desire for a longer longlist, highlighting the joy and emotion found in the 156 submissions. The shortlist will be revealed on September 16, with the winner announced on November 12 at a ceremony in London. The winner receives £50,000, while shortlisted authors are awarded £2,500 and a specially bound edition of their work.