You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Bloomsbury to co-sponsor new £10K Give a Book prize
Bloomsbury is to co-sponsor a new prize launched by the Give a Book Charity, in celebration of their 10th anniversary.
The Pleasure of Reading Prize will be an annual award recognising an author writing in English, who "gives pleasure through their work". The £10,000 prize money will be split equally between the author and a Give a Book charitable project of their choosing. The prize is also supported by the the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
The inaugural judges for the prize are chair Lady Antonia Fraser, Kamila Shamsie, James Naughtie, executive director of Give a Book Victoria Gray, and author Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Fraser said: "“For me, lucky enough to learn when very young, reading is and always has been one of the great pleasures in life. This is why I strongly support Give a Book, the charity which believes in supplying books to people who would not otherwise have them—such as prisoners and disadvantaged children. This exciting new prize is going to combine the two: thank a writer who has given outstanding pleasure as well as help on the work of Give a Book.”
The winning author will be announced on 1st July 2021.
Nigel Newton, c.e.o. of Bloomsbury, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this new and innovative literary prize from Give a Book, that recognises the pleasure that reading a book can bring, and equally celebrates writing talent. Thanks to this award, more books and reading resources will go into the hands of disadvantaged and vulnerable adults and youngsters who may not experience the joy of reading first-hand without this.”
Gray added: "We are delighted that as part of their commitment to literacy and reading charities Bloomsbury have so generously sponsored this exciting new prize, which was inspired by one of their own books, The Pleasure of Reading. We’re grateful too that the Blavatnik Family Foundation have generously added their support. This prize will make a significant difference to the charity’s work as well as providing a new way to celebrate an author.”
