Small Pleasures

Clare Chambers’ first novel in 10 years is the second winner of this category after its introduction last year. The “exquisite detail” of her writing that so clearly evoked the sense of time and place in 1950s suburbia was much admired by our judges, who found it to be “sensitively told”, “profoundly shocking” and “beautiful”.

The judges agreed Weidenfeld & Nicolson’s “astonishing publishing” transformed Chambers’ career. The paperback campaign built on the success of the hardback; extensive digital advertising, a Waterstones Plus competition and exclusive run of special cover prints, helped Small Pleasures reach a wide readership, boosted by a “gorgeous” cover. A “remarkable achievement”, the judges agreed, with paperback sales over 142,000 through Nielsen TCM for a literary novel and rights optioned for TV, with Bafta winner Anna Maxwell Martin to star.