2011 Wales Book of the Year Announced

In a glamorous ceremony hosted by Literature Wales in Cineworld, Cardiff on Thursday 7 July 2011, Chris Earnshaw, Managing Director of John Lewis Cardiff, presented author John Harrison with a £10,000 cheque for his novel, ‘Cloud Road’ (Parthian), which was named the 2011 Wales Book of the Year.

The judges on the English panel this year were Francesca Rhydderch, Jon Gower and Deborah Kay Davies.

Rhydderch, said of the winning book:

"Open this book – any page will do – and you will find lyrical, sharply observed descriptions that convey you to another time and place, while keeping you anchored in the realities of the here and now. It has a layered texture that comes from deep, unstinting research, and a control of voice that is the hallmark of a committed, well-practised talent. This is an unusually powerful and moving book."

Fiction and travel writer John Harrison works as a freelance writer, guide and lecturer. Twice a winner of the Alexander Cordell Travel Writing prize, he is the author of ‘Where the Earth Ends’ (Parthian), a travel book on Patagonia and Antarctica, which was a ‘Sunday Times’ Book of the week, and a forthcoming pocket history of Antarctica: ‘Forgotten Footprints’ (Parthian). His short stories have appeared on the BBC, in ‘New Welsh Review’, ‘Planet’, ‘The Works’, and been collected in ‘A Short Primer in Vice’.

In ‘Cloud Road: A Journey Through the Inca Heartland’ John Harrison journeys for five months through the Inca Heartland, walking alone into remote villages where he is the first gringo the inhabitants have ever seen, and where life continues as if Columbus had never sailed. In this personal account of adventure and misadventure, gain and loss, donkeys and dogs, John tells of the people, places – and limits – he encounters on his journey through the Inca heartland and home again.

The other two short listed books were ‘Terminal World’ (Orion Books) by Alastair Reynolds, and ‘What the Water Gave Me’ (Seren) by Pascale Petit.

Jon Gower, from the English judging panel said of the judging process:

"I'd expected the judging process to be full of argument, counter-argument and compromise but as it happens there was extraordinary unanimity about the books we all three of us loved. It's been great to share excitement and enthusiasm for a wide range of titles, although I have had to start wearing glasses as a result of all the reading. The long list was strong. Whittling that list down to three gave us a trio of fantastic books, each very different from the others. All three could have won, and would have deserved to win, but life's not fair..."

Lleucu Siencyn, Acting Chief Executive of Literature Wales said:

"The Wales Book of The Year is a prestigious prize which puts the literature in Wales today at centre stage. The competition goes from strength to strength, the ceremony re-vamped this year, categorising next year…who knows what’s on the horizon for Wales Book of the Year – Watch this space!"

The Welsh-language winner is Ned Thomas for ‘Bydoedd’ (Y Lolfa). The winner of the Media Wales Readers’ Prize this year was Tyler Keevil for ‘Fireball’ (Parthian). Since the Long List was announce the public have had a chance to vote for their favourite amongst the ten. The winner of the Welsh-language Readers’ Prize, Barn y Bobl Golwg360, was Dewi Prysor for ‘Lladd Duw’ (Y Lolfa).

The Wales Book of the Year Award is administered by Literature Wales with funding from the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Books Council and the Welsh Government.