The future of British and Irish literary excellence is secure in the hands of innovative and daring writers. The recent unveiling of the shortlist for the 2025 Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award serves as a bold declaration that the upcoming generation is not engrossed in their smartphones but is actively engaged in dismantling societal and political barriers.
For more than three decades, this prestigious award has been instrumental in identifying influential voices that shape our cultural landscape, with past recipients including renowned authors such as Zadie Smith, Sarah Waters, and Caryl Phillips.
The tradition of recognizing exceptional talent remains strong, as this year’s shortlist is characterized by its profound empathy and unwavering commitment to confronting the harsh realities of our world.
Johanna Thomas-Corr, the esteemed chief literary critic for The Times and Sunday Times and head of the 2025 judging panel, commended the selected works for being outward-focused and deeply concerned with societal issues and our interconnectedness.
A distinguished panel of judges, featuring cultural trailblazers like Caleb Femi, Esther Freud, Graham Norton, Sathnam Sanghera, and Lea Ypi, emphasized the importance of narratives that bridge divides and challenge conventional norms, offering a counterbalance to the digital era’s sense of isolation.
The four finalists competing for the £10,000 prize bring a diverse range of perspectives to the forefront. Ben Brooks presents “The Greatest Possible Good,” a witty family saga that explores the concept of goodness in a complex, contemporary world.
Gurnaik Johal’s debut novel, “Saraswati,” takes readers on a global adventure as the protagonist uncovers a forgotten river in Northern India, highlighting the interconnectedness that transcends borders.
In contrast, the poignant “Every One Still Here” by the anonymous writer Liadan Ní Chuinn delves into the enduring scars of post-conflict Northern Ireland. By choosing anonymity, Ní Chuinn amplifies the collective impact of history over individual identities.
The most daring entry, “Year of the Rat” by Harry Shukman, is a gripping work of investigative non-fiction detailing his undercover experiences infiltrating far-right groups in the UK, offering crucial insights in a time of escalating extremism.
The winner will be revealed at the Barbican Centre on Monday, 23rd March, in a ceremony chaired by Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo, a staunch advocate for marginalized voices. This collaboration aims to ensure that these groundbreaking narratives reach young audiences, promoting accessibility to high-quality literature through the Young Barbican program.
The grand finale will unfold the following evening at the Whitechapel Gallery on Tuesday, 24th March, where one of these courageous authors will be crowned the victor, cementing their position among a lineage of esteemed literary figures.