Congratulations to Joelle Taylor and Miriam Margolyes on this year’s shortlisting!
Memoir, fiction, and vibrant poetry collections from a mixture of small presses and larger publishers are all recognised in the shortlists for this year’s Polari Prize and Polari First Book Prize, the UK’s only dedicated awards for LGBTQ+ literature.
Sophia Blackwell, judge for the Polari First Book Prize, who announced the shortlists at a special Polari on Sea event in Hastings on Thursday 1st September, said: ‘The shortlist for the Polari First Book Prize is everything we’d want it to be – urgent, daring and unafraid to tackle big questions, while also showcasing books that focus on what it means to live an enjoyable and meaningful life. I am particularly delighted by the mix of ages on display – a reminder that it’s never too late! – and the variety in the imprints, from big publishers to indie presses.’
THE POLARI FIRST BOOK PRIZE SHORTLIST 2022
Lessons in Love and other Crimes – Elizabeth Chakrabarty (The Indigo Press)
All The Things She Said – Daisy Jones (Coronet)
This Much is True – Miriam Margolyes (John Murray)
Deep Sniff – Adam Zmith (Repeater Books)
These Great Athenians – Valentine Carter (Twenty Seven)
THE POLARI PRIZE SHORTLIST 2022
Address Book – Neil Bartlett (Inkandescent) Seven)
Valentine Ackland – Frances Bingham (Handheld Press)
The Origins of Iris – Beth Lewis (Hodder)
Rocksong – Golnoosh Nour (Verve Poetry Press)
C*nto and Othered Poems – Joelle Taylor (Saqi Books / Westbourne Press)
