The Polari Shortlist features poetry, literary fiction, and a graphic novel across the two adult shortlists. This year the Polari Children’s & YA Prize also returns.
Tales of transition feature on the Polari First Book Prize shortlist
Bellies by Nicola Dinan
A tender and compassionate tale of transitioning.
Transitional by Monroe Berghorf
The acclaimed memoir of the model and activist Munroe Bergdorf.
Two coming-of-age tales shortlisted
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
The Nero Book Awards-shortlisted novel is an adolescent love story set in Ireland.
Neon Roses by Rachel Dawson
Set in South Wales during the miners’ strike.
Resilience and joy in the face of adversity and grief are recurring themes on the Polari Prize shortlist
The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants by Orlando Ortega-Medina
Inspired by the circumstances that forced the author and his partner to emigrate from the United States.
Blue Hunger by Viola Di Grado
Translated from the Italian by Jamie Richards, the novel chronicles an electrifying descent from loneliness and grief into obsessive, all-consuming love.
Forty Lies by David Shenton
Queer cartoonist David Shenton chronicles 70 years as a gay man in Britain, from Coming Out, to Section 28, to Marriage Equality.
Hard Drive by Paul Stephenson
Poet Paul Stephenson pays tribute to his partner who died suddenly in his latest collection of poems.
“This year’s shortlists celebrate the diversity and richness of LGBTQ literary talent in the UK and Ireland today. These are books which explore sexuality, gender, history and politics with humour, passion and insight. They remind us of the power of queer storytelling at a time when some would see our books and stories banned. Read them with pride.”
Paul Burston, Polari Prize Founder
Killing Jericho by William Hussey
The Theakston Old Peculier-shortlisted thriller has introduced crime fiction’s first-ever Traveller detective.
Local Fires by Joshua Jones
Set in South Wales, this is a stunning and lively series of interconnected tales about the misadventures of the inhabitants of Llanelli.
Greekling by Kostya Tsolakis
This much-anticipated debut poetry collection is a collection in which Greek culture, history and poetry intertwine with the contemporary queer experience.
The Gallopers by Jon Ransom
The tale of a tense and mesmerising love triangle from the 2023 Polari First Book Prize-winner.
The Polari Children’s and YA Prize Shortlist
Features books aimed at all ages and features several compelling and exciting protest narratives.
The Fights That Make Us, by Sarah Hagger-Holt
A heartwarming tale of acceptance which draws on LGBTQ+ history that continues to inspire.
Out of the Blue by Robert Tregoning
A picture book about a little boy who loves yellow in a world where only blue is allowed.
Away With Words by Sophie Cameron
Explores the importance of language and communication in a world where words appear physically when people speak.
“The breadth of writing (and fresh breath) in the shortlisted titles makes me want to sing out loud. Intelligent, playful, and emotionally rich, I am wowed by the confidence and boldness in the writing.”
Author Karen McLeod, Polari First Book Prize judge
On the shortlist for older readers are two thrilling YA narratives
Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
The award-winning novel draws on the legends of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere.
Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn
The Nero Children’s Award-nominated entry is a dark, fantastical romance.
The Polari First Book Prize
Awarded annually to a debut book that explores the LGBTQ+ experience.
Previous winners include writers, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Mohsin Zaidi, Adam Zmithand, and last year’s winner, Jon Ransom with The Whale Tattoo, which powerfully and sensitively explores grief, love and forgiveness.
The Polari Book Prize Overall Book of the Year
Excluding debuts, previous winners include Andrew McMillan’s Playtime, Kate Davies’s In At the Deep End, Diana Souhami’s No Modernism Without Lesbians, and Joelle Taylor’s C+nto & Other Poems. Last year’s winner with Our Wives Under The Sea was Julia Armfield, a spellbinding and magical reckoning of love and loss and what might lurk under the sea.
The Polari Prize winners’ ceremony will return to the British Library for a third year on Friday 29th November 2024
