New writer makes shortlist of UK’s oldest literary prize

The book has already received great acclaim, featuring on both the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s 2012 First Book Award shortlist and the Waterstones Eleven most promising debut fiction list. Fagan was also recently named as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists.

The James Tait Black Prizes are awarded annually by the University of Edinburgh and recognise the best works of fiction and biography published during the previous year, as judged by a panel of university staff and postgraduate students.

Alongside Fagan on the eclectic shortlist for the fiction prize are Kirsty Gunn for The Big Music, Alan Warner’s The Deadman’s Pedal and Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner.

The shortlist for the biography prize features Joseph Anton: A Memoir by Salman Rushdie which is based on his experiences during his time in hiding while under a fatwa issued in response to the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses.

The full shortlist for the James Tait Black Prizes can be found on the competition website and the winners, who will each receive a prize of £10,000, will be revealed during a special event at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. Further details about the event and how to book tickets will be available on our website when our 2013 programme is launched at noon on Thursday 20 June.