Swansea University revealed the longlist for its annual Dylan Thomas Prize, given to “the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under.”
Yasmin Zaher made the longlist for her novel The Coin; she is one of two Palestinian writers to be named a finalist, alongside Mosab Abu Toha for the poetry collection Forest of Noise.
Michigan-based Indian author Ruthvika Rao was named a finalist for The Fertile Earth, which was previously a finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. Jo Hamya made the longlist for her novel The Hypocrite, along with fellow U.K. writers Emma Glass for Mrs Jekyll, Andrew McMillan for Pity, Lottie Mills for Monstrum, Rebecca Watson for I Will Crash, and Eley Williams for Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good.
Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden was named a finalist for her Booker Prize finalist, The Safekeep, along with Irish authors Ferdia Lennon (Glorious Exploits) and Seán Hewitt (Rapture's Road).
The Dylan Thomas Prize, named after the legendary Welsh poet and playwright, was established in 2006. Previous winners include Claire Vaye Watkins for Battleborn, Bryan Washington for Lot, and Patricia Lockwood for No One Is Talking About This.
The shortlist for the prize will be announced on March 20, with the winner revealed at a ceremony in Swansea, Wales, on May 15.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
