How women conquered the world of fiction

From Sally Rooney to Raven Leilani, female novelists have captured the literary zeitgeist, with more buzz, prizes and bestsellers than men. But is this cultural shift something to celebrate or rectify?In March, Vintage, one of the UK’s largest literary fiction divisions, announced the five debut novelists it would be championing this year: Megan Nolan, Pip Williams, Ailsa McFarlane, Jo Hamya and Vera Kurian.All five of them are women. But you could be forgiven for not noticing it, so commonplace are female-dominated lists in 2021. Over the past 12 months, almost all of the buzz in fiction has been around young women: Patricia Lockwood, Yaa Gyasi, Raven Leilani, Avni Doshi, Lauren Oyler. Ask a novelist of any gender who they are reading and they will almost certainly mention one of Rachel Cusk, Ottessa Moshfegh, Rachel Kushner, Gwendoline Riley, Monique Roffey or Maria Stepanova. Or they will be finding new resonances in Anita Brookner, Zora Neale Hurston, Natalia Ginzburg, Octavia Butler, Ivy Compton-Burnett. The energy, as anyone in the publishing world will tell you, is with women.It’s only relatively recently that fiction written by a woman about intimate subjects like sex has been classed as literary fictionClass is the dirty secret of publishing. Working-class male writers are now expected to answer for a past that isn’t oursMen think that to be allowed a place at the table, they need to have the right views and be these nice guysWhy wasn’t there uproar in the media... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-05-16 06:00:48 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "How women conquered the world of fiction"


Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’

'Overall the books selling well' in the UK 'are not literary,' Arts Council England's commissioned report from the Canelo team announces. The post Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crisis in literary fiction a 'wake-up call'

Arts Council England’s report into the crisis in literary fiction should serve as a "wake up call" to the industry which needs to "radically rethink" how it presents the genre, the chief executive of Curtis Brown has warned. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction under threat, ACE report concludes

Arts Council England has pledged to engage with more bookshops, fund more writers and lobby the government to provide tax relief to independent publishers following a report finding that “the general trend for literary fiction is a negative one”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Top 10 Library Stories of 2017

PW takes a look back at some of the library stories that captivated the publishing world in 2017, and what they portend for 2018 Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rachel Cusk returns to Faber to publish last in trilogy

Rachel Cusk is returning to Faber & Faber to publish the third in her trilogy of novels about divorced creative writing teacher Faye. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Attica Locke lives in L.A., but she writes about what she knows — black life in Texas

Few contemporary writers have portrayed black Southern life with as much wit and heart-pounding drama as Attica Locke, whose latest book is the mystery “Bluebird, Bluebird.” Formerly a writer and producer on the television show “Empire,” Locke took the publishing world by storm with her debut... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon Looks to Broaden Audience

Since its inception in 2014, BookCon has mainly drawn women in the 18 to 30-year-old age bracket, but organizer ReedPop is adding more programming for the 2018 event to attract readers interested in literary fiction, mystery/thriller, sci fi/fantasy and romance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Benway, Bidart, Gessen, and Ward Win 2017 National Book Awards

At the 68th National Book Awards, held at Cipriani New York in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday night, politics were again front and center in the publishing world. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Publishers Need to Focus on Audience and Brand as They Step Up Their Video Efforts

The pivot to video came upon the publishing world with a force still being grappled with, even as the video environment continues to evolve. During a panel discussion on the subject during Adweek's first Elevate summit today, Vox general manager Andrew Golis described the experience as "moving... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Self and McGregor on Goldsmiths Prize shortlist

William Heinemann has landed two titles on the Goldsmiths Prize shortlist, with Will Self and Jon McGregor both nominated for the £10,000 award. The Cornerstone imprint has H(a)ppy by Nicola Barker and A Line Made by Walking by Sara Baume in the running alongside contenders from independent... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Henley reveals ACE's 'concerns for literary fiction'

Arts Council England is broadening its literature work, which has previously concentrated on areas such as poetry and translated literature, into a new emphasis on literary fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Andrew Wylie and the Internationalist Imperative: ‘A Profound Moral Question’

In his keynote at Frankfurt's The Markets, the arch-agent Andrew Wylie will address the forces of nationalism: 'The publishing world is in opposition.' The post Andrew Wylie and the Internationalist Imperative: ‘A Profound Moral Question’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Aussie Rules: Black Inc launches in the UK

Australian publisher Black Inc, which specialises in literary fiction and non-fiction, is to launch in the UK this September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Shuts Down Tyrus Books, Relocates Howard Books

Tyrus Books, which published crime and literary fiction, is closing six months after S&S acquired its parent company, Adams Media, from F&W. Christian imprint Howard Books is being relocated to the publisher's New York City headquarters and losing its publisher in the move. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir

Amazon Publishing, the largest publisher of translations, will be at the London Book Fair with a rights list of suspense, memoir and literary titles. The post Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The International Prize for Arabic Fiction’s Shortlist: Strong on Issues

At a time when literary fiction has a chance to illuminate the struggles and needs of many, the leading Arabic fiction prize's shortlist makes the point. The post The International Prize for Arabic Fiction’s Shortlist: Strong on Issues appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Germany’s ‘Future Publish’ at Leipzig; Faber’s Page and Europa’s Reynolds on Literature

Future Publish's program at Leipzig Book Fair includes a tour, as literary fiction and free speech intersect at conferences in the US and UK. The post Germany’s ‘Future Publish’ at Leipzig; Faber’s Page and Europa’s Reynolds on Literature appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber CEO speaks out after winning indie trade publisher of the year

Head of venerable press says his sector has important role in the defence of free speech and champions the revival of literary fiction and traditional booksFaber & Faber’s chief executive has called for publishers to oppose crackdowns on free speech and the rise of so-called fake news.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Webcast on Virtual Communities Today

The fourth and final webcast in CodeMantra’s series on the publishing-technology connection will be held at 1 p.m. today. The subject of the webcast is virtual communities and will examine how the publishing world can use engagement and collaborative communities to its advantage. Panelists are... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On eve of Costa awards, experts warn that top books prizes are harming fiction

The dominance of three honours in the UK can be prohibitively expensive for small publishers, and end up discouraging risk-taking on ‘difficult’ authorsCutting-edge British literary fiction risks being undermined by its growing reliance on a handful of powerful book prizes, a leading literary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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