International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2024
The Dublin Literary Award celebrates excellence in world literature and was first awarded in 1996. It was originally named the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and renamed the International Dublin Literary Award in 2015.
Each year, a longlist is created from books that are nominated by invited public libraries in cities from all around the world. A panel of judges narrows these down to a shortlist of ten titles and the winner is chosen from these. The prizes are very generous: €100,000 for a single work of fiction in original English or translated into English. If the winning book is in English translation, the author receives €75,000 and the translator €25,000. This annual commitment from Dublin City Council recognises Dublin's status as a UNESCO City of Literature.
This year's longlist features 70 books nominated by 80 libraries from 35 countries around the world. Public libraries who select novels which are popular among their reading communities are central to the nominating process. Our nomination is Pet, by Catherine Chidgey. The description is as follows:
"Like every other girl in her class, twelve-year-old Justine is drawn to her glamorous, charismatic new teacher, and longs to be her pet. However, when a thief begins to target the school, Justine's sense that something isn't quite right grows ever stronger. With each twist of the plot, this gripping story of deception takes a yet darker turn. Young as she is, Justine must decide where her loyalties lie."
Other books nominated by New Zealand authors are Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton and The Axeman's Carnival by Catherine Chidgey. Four books by Irish writers are nominated - Old God's Time by Sebastian Faulks, Haven by Emma Donoghue, My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor and Soldier, Sailor by Claire Kilroy. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, winner of both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2023 and of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, is also nominated.
The shortlist will be announced on 26 March 2024, and the winner will be announced by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste, on 23rd May 2024. Fingers crossed for Catherine Chidgey and Eleanor Catton to make it to the shortlist! Also if you are reading through the longlist and you discover a book you would like us to purchase, you can do this by filling out a 'suggestion to buy' form available at any of our libraries, or by filling out our online form.