Dublin Literary Award Shortlist 2025
Published on 25th March 2024
Paul Lynch has been shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award for his highly acclaimed novel Prophet Song.
Seventy-one books were nominated by 83 libraries around the world for the Dublin Literary Award. All 71 books were read by the five judges who chose the shortlist of six books.
Two authors on the shortlist are American, one is Canadian, one is from Argentina, and one is Dutch.
The prize of €100,000 is the highest internationally.
The shortlist:
- Selva Almada - Not a River
- Gerda Blees - We Are Light
- Michael Crummey - The Adversary
- Percival Everett - James
- Paul Lynch - Prophet Song
- Daniel Mason - North Woods
Not a River by Selva Almada (Argentinian), translated from Spanish by Annie McDermott. Published by Charco Press. Nominated by Biblioteca Daniel Cosío Villegas, El Colegio de México, Mexico
We Are Light by Gerda Blees (Dutch) translated from Dutch by Michele Hutchinson. Published by World Editions NY LLC. Nominated by Bibliotheek Utrecht, The Netherlands
The Adversary by Michael Crummey (Canadian). Published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada. Nominated by Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries, Canada.
James by Percival Everett (American). Published by Doubleday (Penguin Random House US); Mantle (an imprint of Pan Macmillan UK). Nominated by Miami-Dade Public Library and The Seattle Public Library, United States.
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (Irish). Published by Oneworld Publications (UK); Atlantic Monthly Press (US), Nominated by Jamaica Library Service, Jamaica.
North Woods by Daniel Mason (American). Published by John Murray Press (UK; Random House (US). Nominated by Iowa City Public Library, United States; Municipal Library of Prague, Czechia
The 30th winner of the Dublin Literary Award will be announced by its Patron, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain on Thursday 22nd May, as part of International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD), which is also funded by Dublin City Council.
The shortlisted novels will be available for readers to borrow from public libraries, or can be borrowed on Borrowbox.
Sponsored by Dublin City Council, nominations for the Dublin Literary Award are submitted by libraries and readers in major cities around the world.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain said
“As we celebrate 30 years of the Dublin Literary Award, it is heartening to see that the broad scope of the Award still persists with a shortlist that includes nominations from public libraries in Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, The Netherlands, and United States. The 2025 winner will be chosen from an inspiring shortlist that includes two novels in translation and explores themes of power, corruption, manipulation, bravery, ghosts from the past, and a re-imagining of a literary classic.”
Dublin City Librarian, Mairead Owens, thanked the nominating libraries from around the world for their considered choices illustrating the range of novels and innovative story-telling.
“I always look forward to viewing the Dublin Literary Award shortlist, and in our 30th year it is encouraging to see that the Award continues to flourish. Our judging panel have had the unenviable task of choosing 6 titles from a stellar list of 71 books and yet again they don’t disappoint. I would encourage our library members to reserve copies of the shortlist from their local library and choose their particular favourite before the announcement of the winner on Thursday 22nd May.”
The international panel of judges who has selected the shortlist and will also select the ultimate winner, features Gerbrand Bakker, Dutch author and winner of the Dublin Literary Award (formerly IMPAC Prize) in 2010; Martina Devlin, award winning Irish author and newspaper columnist; Fiona Sze-Lorrain, writer, poet, translator, musician and editor based in Paris; Prof. Leonard Cassuto, professor of American literature at Fordham University, freelance literary journalist, columnist, editor and author; and Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, poet, pacifist and editor based in Dublin. The non-voting Chairperson is Professor Chris Morash, the Seamus Heaney Professor of Irish Writing at Trinity College Dublin.
The six member international judging panel, chaired by Prof. Chris Morash, will select one winner, which will be announced by the Patron of the Award, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain on Thursday 22nd May during the International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD) which runs from the 16th to the 25th May 2025 in Merrion Square Park.
The shortlist can be viewed on the Award website at www.dublinliteraryaward.ie.