Yellowface

Rebecca F Kuang returns in her second consecutive win in this category for the trailblazing Yellowface, following her triumph with Babel last year. For our judges, Yellowface "delivered on every level", being a "propulsive", "brave" and "bold" story satirising the publishing industry. The Borough Press’ campaign created a cultural moment with an ambitious and audacious marketing strategy which made Yellowface the "book to be seen with".

Our panel agreed this was the "best campaign" on the shortlist. The stylish, now iconic cover was just the first step on Yellowface’s road to success. The publisher created an "unmissable" event, with everything from spray­ painted pavement motifs to fly-posters to enormous billboard adver­tising, and a sell-out nationwide tour. When crowning Yellowface the winner, our panel agreed they had "never read anything quite like it".