Doerr and Everett shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award

Anthony Doerr’s Cloud Cuckoo Land (Fourth Estate) and Percival Everett’s The Trees (Influx Press) are among the six novels that have been shortlisted for the €100,000 (£87,900) Dublin Literary Award.

Sponsored by Dublin City Council, the annual prize is awarded to a single work of fiction published in English. Nominations are chosen by librarians and readers from a network of libraries around the world.  

If the book has been translated the author receives €75,000 and the translator receives €25,000. This year’s shortlist includes four novels in translation: Paradais by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie Hughes (Fitzcarraldo Editions), Marzahn, Mon Amour  by Katja Oskamp, translated by Jo Heinrich (Peirene Press), Love Novel  by Ivana Sajko, translated by Mima Simić (V&Q Books), and Em by Kim Thúy, translated by Sheila Fischman (Seven Stories Press).

The shortlist features authors who are American, Mexican, German, Croatian and Canadian-Vietnamese. The 28th winner of the Dublin Literary Award will be announced by its patron, Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy, on Thursday 25th May, as part of International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD), which is also funded by Dublin City Council, and runs from the 19th to the 28th May 2023 in Merrion Square. 

Conroy said: "The titles on this year’s shortlist were nominated by public libraries in Hungary, Germany, Croatia, Mexico and the US. The beauty of this award is that it highlights authors and readers worldwide while celebrating excellence in contemporary literature.  

"The 2023 winner will be chosen from this fascinating shortlist, which includes four novels in translation, and covers a myriad of topics including the power of books, racially-inspired hate crimes, relationships, ageing, toxic masculinity, the impact of war, and spans many settings and time periods. “  

Dublin City librarian Mairead Owens thanked the libraries around the world that nominated titles this year, featuring a wealth of languages and from a myriad of cultures. She said: “Selecting six titles from such a strong longlist of 70 books is a challenge and I commend our judging panel for presenting us with such a diverse and interesting shortlist.

"We look forward to sharing these stories with our readers over the coming weeks and months. I encourage readers to explore the list and choose their favourite book before this year’s Dublin Literary Award winner is announced on 25th May. Happy reading.” 

The international panel of judges who have selected the shortlist and will select the winner features: Gabriel Gbadamosi who is an Irish and Nigerian poet, playwright and critic based in London; Marie Hermet who is a writer and translator who teaches creative writing and translation at the Université Paris Cité; and English writer Sarah Moss. Doireann Ní Ghríofa, a bilingual poet, essayist and translator is also on the panel alongside Arunava Sinha who translates fiction, non-fiction and poetry from Bengali to English and from English to Bengali. The non-voting chairperson is Chris Morash, the Seamus Heaney Professor of Irish Writing at Trinity College Dublin. 

The novels nominated and shortlisted for the award will be available for readers to borrow from Dublin City Libraries and from public libraries around Ireland, or can be borrowed as e-books and some as e-audiobooks on the free Borrowbox app, available to all public library users.