Karunatilaka, Anaxagorou and Kretser make the shortlist for the 2023 RSL Ondaatje Prize

Shehan Karunatilaka, Anthony Anaxagorou and Michelle de Kretser are among those shortlisted for the £10,000 2023 RSL Ondaatje Prize. The prize is awarded by the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) to an outstanding work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry that best evokes the spirit of a place.  

Five authors have been selected to form this year’s shortlist by judges Samira Ahmed (chair), Roger Robinson and Joelle Taylor, from an initial longlist of nine authors. 

The 2022 Booker Prize winner, Karunatilaka, made the shortlist with The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (Sort of Books), Anaxagorou with Heritage Aesthetics (Granta Poetry), and Kretser with Scary Monsters (Allen & Unwin). Zaffar Kunial is also in the running with England’s Green (Faber), while Priscilla Morris is on this list for Black Butterflies (Duckworth), also shortlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize. 

Judges Ahmed, Robinson and Taylor said: “What captivated us about all five books on the shortlist was the revelations they gave us: powerfully evoked landscapes that felt sometimes like home, but sometimes like alien and hostile worlds because of the political forces that strafe across them like bullets.

"Cinematic in scope and description, we were enticed by personal stories connected to larger histories, rich and adventurous language, and revelations that sometimes bordered on an unexpected new form of creative documentary. All these books defy narrow national boundaries, and we’ve relished an unflinching power of individual figures standing up against violence and hostility, and facing down darkness, with decency and love.” 

Karunatilaka added: “When writing a book like Seven Moons, capturing the atmosphere, spirit and tensions of a haunted city, a terrorised island, and a badly organised afterlife was both challenging and rewarding. It’s fantastic to be recognised alongside such accomplished writers and impressive books.”  

Kretser commented: “I’m thrilled to be shortlisted for this distinctive prize that honours the importance of place in literature. And there’s a special delight for this Sri Lankan-Australian in being recognised by a prize that bears a distinguished Sri Lankan name.” 

Morris said: “This is wonderful news! Black Butterflies, set in my mother’s hometown of Sarajevo, certainly grew from a deep love of place and its resilient spirit. It means so much that this has been recognised by the judges of this year’s RSL Ondaatje Prize.” 

The winner will be announced on 10th May at Two Temple Place. Last year’s winner was Lea Ypi, who was awarded the prize for Free (Penguin).