Highlights from the Women’s Prize Shortlist Readings

Last night, in the wonderful surroundings of Cadogan Hall, the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted authors gathered together to read from and discuss their nominated books ahead of Wednesday’s winner’s announcement.

The evening, attended by an audience of 600, was hosted by Women’s Prize co-founder bestselling novelist Kate Mosse and this year’s Chair of Judges Professor Kate Williams.

Kate Williams introduced this year’s brilliant shortlisted authors and spoke a little about her experiences of judging the Women’s Prize for Fiction, praising the shortlist, saying ‘they are fiction at its best’

Shortlisted author Pat Barker then gave a powerful reading and talked about the inspiration behind The Silence of the Girls, saying she felt: ‘I’ve got to give these girls a voice’

‘On their one month anniversary she stabbed him in the bathroom. She didn’t mean to of course.’ Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlistee Oyinkan Braithwaite then read from My Sister, the Serial Killer.

Bríd Brennan, audiobook narrator of Milkman, then gave a fantastic reading as Anna Burns was unable to join us due to a prior commitment.

‘If you don’t want me to behave like a housewife, don’t treat me like one’ Diana Evans then read from her Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted third novel Ordinary People.

‘Even before I stepped down from the witness stand, I knew that I had failed him’ Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted author Tayari Jones then took to the stage to give a reading of An American Marriage

‘The truth is, men make terrible pigs’ Last but certainly not least, 2012 Women’s Prize for Fiction winner Madeline Miller then gave a reading from her 2019 #WomensPrize shortlisted novel Circe

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