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The TLS is a weekly magazine that brings together leading thinkers and stylish writers. We believe in the importance of books and ideas, and the transformative power of art. Join us as we decipher, discuss and delve into the world around us.
THE SHORTLIST
Ghosts Dolly Alderton FIG TREE
The Girl with the Louding Voice Abi Daré SCEPTRE
Exciting Times Naoise Dolan W&N
Rainbow Milk Paul Mendez DIALOGUE
Such a Fun Age Kiley Reid BLOOMSBURY CIRCUS
BOOK OF THE YEAR FICTION: DÉBUT
W
ouglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain was a standout début in this category— and elsewhere, winning the Overall Book of the Year too. “It’s epic and important in its scope, scale and achievement,” was the verdict from the judges.
Inspired by the author’s own life and a desire to diversify literature to WINNER
Shuggie Bain Douglas Stuart PICADOR
represent the working-class experience, Shuggie Bain follows the story of a family struggling to get by in 1980s Glasgow, and tackles themes of class, poverty, addiction and homophobia. Clearly the book resonated: it became the fifth début novel to win the Booker Prize. Judges were particularly touched by the publisher’s fervour for the book, and felt Picador’s acquisition—which followed rejection from 12 UK publishers—demonstrated its early recogni- tion of the book’s potential, and showed it was prepared to champion an “uncompromising and complex” working-class narrative. The marketing campaign demonstrated the team’s belief in the book too.
It built an extensive long-lead word of mouth campaign to publicise it within the gay and Scottish press, as well as national newspapers and broadcast media. It sold more than 18,000 hardback copies before the Booker win, a figured that quintupled in the months following its triumph.
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