The Bookseller – News – Tom Bullough and Mari George win Welsh Book of the Year Award 2024

The winner of the Wales Book of the Year in English was announced to Tom Bullough for his “modern classic”. Sarn Helen: A journey through Wales, past, present and future (Granta), with the Welsh prize going to Mari George for her novel, Sut and Ddofi Corryn (Sebra).

The winners were announced at a ceremony held by Literature Wales at the Caernarfon Gallery.

It was a double victory for Bullough: he received the award for best English-language creative non-fiction and was subsequently crowned the winner of the Wales Book of the Year Award 2024. He takes home £4,000 in prize money and a trophy from artist Angharad Pearce Jones.

Sarn Helena non-fiction book about the author’s walk along the old Roman road leading from Neath in the south to Caerhun on the north coast of Wales, which has also been awarded Waterstones Welsh Book of the Year 2023, is illustrated by Jackie Morris.

Judge Dylan Moore said: “Despite strong competition from fabulous and fantastic fiction and dazzling verse (Sarn Helen) stood out. It is the book that will stay with us the longest. The depth of its explorations and hard facts, as well as the momentous importance of its message, take it beyond its price tag and into the realm of a true modern classic.”

Each year, the Wales Book of the Year Awards recognise talented Welsh authors who have excelled in a variety of literary forms in Welsh and English. There are four categories in both languages ​​- poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and children’s and young adult literature. Each category winner receives a prize of £1,000, and the overall winner of each category receives a further £3,000 and the title of Wales Book of the Year.

Leusa Llewelyn, artistic director of Literature Wales, said: “This year Literature Wales is celebrating the 20th year of running this prize, which has provided a platform and, of course, thousands of pounds worth of prizes for so many writers. We have brought together readers and writers in Cardiff, Caernarfon, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberystwyth to celebrate and be celebrated.”

The English-speaking panel this year comprised author, journalist and Chair of PEN Cymru Dylan Moore, author, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and experienced mentor Patrice Lawrence, novelist, playwright and former winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize Rachel Trezise, ​​and poet, novelist and former Chair of the TS Eliot Prize Pascale Petit.

This year’s Welsh-speaking panel included producer, director and writer Nici Beech, actor, director and writer Hanna Jarman, poet and WJEC senior literary examiner Tudur Dylan Jones, and author and lecturer at Cardiff University’s School of Welsh Rhiannon Marks.

George’s novel Sut and Ddofi Corryn follows Muriel and Ken, a married couple in their forties. When her husband is diagnosed with cancer, Muriel turns to an old text, Llyfr Corynnod and Mwmbwls (The Mumbles Book of Spiders), who takes drastic measures to find a cure. The novel had previously won the prize for fiction.

The winners of the Wales Book of the Year category in English are:

Creative Non-Fiction Award and overall winner of Welsh Book of the Year 2024 Sarn HelenTom Bullough (Granta Publications)

Poetry Prize cowboyKandace Siobhan Walker (Cheerio Publishing)

The Rhys Davies Trust Fiction Award The unbroken beauty of Rosalind BoneAlex McCarthy (Doubleday)

The Bute Energy Prize for Children and Young People SkrimsliNicola Davies (Firefly Press)

The nation.cymru People’s Choice Award In orbitGlyn Edwards (Seren)

The Welsh-speaking winners are:

Overall award for Welsh-language Wales Book of the Year 2024 and Fiction Sut and Ddofi CorrynMari George (Sebra)

Poetry Prize Mymryn RhyddidGruffudd Owen (Cyhoeddiadau Barddas)

Creative non-fiction CranogwenJane Aaron (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru)

The Bute Energy Prize for Children and Young People Jac a’AngelDaf James (And Lolfa)

Golwg360 Barn y Bobl (Audience Award) TrothwyIvan Rhys (and Lolfa)