It has today been announced that Tayari Jones’ novel An American Marriage has won the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, taking home the £30,000 prize money.
Endorsed by both President Obama and Oprah Winfrey, An American Marriage, Jones’ fourth novel, follows the devastating aftermath of a young African-American man’s incarceration following a wrongful accusation of rape. An accusation which has damaging consequences not only for the accused, but also his wife and family.
According to Professor Kate Williams, the Prize’s Chair of Judges, the novel is:
“an exquisitely intimate portrait of a marriage shattered by racial injustice. It is a story of love, loss and loyalty, the resilience of the human spirit painted on a big political canvas – that shines a light on today’s America. We all loved this brilliant book.”
The Women’s Prize shortlist included Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls, Madeline Miller’s Circe, Diana Evans’ Ordinary People, Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister the Serial Killer, as well as the winner of the 2018 Man Booker, Anna Burn’s Milkman.
Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage is available now through One World Publications / Bloomsbury Australia. For more information and to grab a copy of your own, head HERE.
