Swansea University organized a special event at the London Book Fair (LBF) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Dylan Thomas Prize which was be held on 12 April 2016. The Chair of judges, Dai Smith, was in conversation with Hannah Ellis as they discussed the prize, this year’s shortlist, and the legacy of Ellis’ grandfather, Dylan Thomas. The event included a reading from Max Porter, one of the 2016 shortlisted writers. Launched in 2006, the annual International Dylan Thomas Prize is one of the most prestigious awards for young writers, aimed at encouraging raw creative talent worldwide. It celebrates and nurtures international literary excellence.
The £30,000 prize is awarded to the best published or produced literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under. Dylan Thomas, the quintessential adolescent writer, served as an inspiration to young writers everywhere. The freshness and immediacy of his writing were qualities that he never lost. The prize seeks to ensure that readers today will have the chance to savour the vitality and sparkle of a new generation of young writers.
“Dylan Thomas was the Swansea born poet whose spellbinding words and performances conquered London and North America and identifi ed him as one of the most influential writers of the mid twentieth century. The prize established in his name has captured the imagination of writers internationally and in recent years 30 shortlisted writers from all continents have come to Wales to speak to students and writing classes. The prize has been won by writers from Wales and Northern Ireland, a Vietnamese Australian and three Americans. Swansea University is the chief sponsor of the prize and is proud to be associated with a competition that invites entries from young writers from around the world,” says Peter Stead, founder and president of the International Dylan Thomas Prize.
