Canadian writer and activist Naomi Klein has been awarded the first Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction for her book “Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World.”
This newly established literary award, launched in 2024, aims to celebrate exceptional works of non-fiction by women. It is an extension of the long-standing Women’s Prize for Fiction, which has recognised female authors since 1996.
About “Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World”
“Doppelganger” begins with Klein’s experiences of being frequently mistaken for Naomi Wolf, a controversial U.S. author. The narrative then broadens to examine the profound impact of the digital era, including social media, artificial intelligence, and their influence on culture, politics, and identity.
Pic: Women’s Prize Trust
Exploring Identity and the Digital Age
The book delves into a range of topics, including various conspiracy theories and the challenges of being confused with another person. Naomi Wolf, well-known for her feminist work “The Beauty Myth,” has also courted controversy, such as a book cancellation in 2019 over accuracy concerns and a suspension from X (formerly Twitter) in 2021 for spreading anti-vaccine misinformation.
Praise for “Doppelganger”
Suzannah Lipscomb, chair of the non-fiction award judges, described Klein’s book as a “brilliant and layered analysis” filled with humour, insight, and expertise. Lipscomb praised Klein for her deeply personal yet expansive writing, calling “Doppelganger” a “courageous, humane, and optimistic call-to-arms” that encourages readers to look at things from a different perspective.
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction recognises outstanding works written in English by female authors from around the globe, with each winner receiving £30,000. This new non-fiction award was established in response to research highlighting a widening pay gap between male and female authors, underrepresentation of female non-fiction writers in the media, and limited visibility on non-fiction prize lists.
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction compliments the long-established Women’s Prize for Fiction, which has been celebrating excellence in female-authored fiction since 1996. Both prizes share a commitment to promoting gender equality and championing women’s voices in literature.
Pic: Women’s Prize Trust
Shortlisted Books for the Women’s Non-Fiction Prize
Naomi Klein – Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World (Winner)
Laura Cumming – Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death
Noreen Masud – A Flat Place: A Memoir
Tiya Miles – All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake
Madhumita Murgia – Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI
Safiya Sinclair – How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir
The Women’s Prize For Fiction
Meanwhile, American author VV Ganeshananthan received the Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel “Brotherless Night.”
The novel tells the story of a family fractured by the Sri Lankan civil war. It took Ganeshananthan two decades to complete.
VV Ganeshananthan
Praise for “Brotherless Night”
Monica Ali, the chair of the fiction prize judging panel, praised “Brotherless Night” as a “brilliant, compelling, and deeply moving novel” that captures both the personal and large-scale tragedies of the Sri Lankan civil war.
Ali highlighted Ganeshananthan’s “rich, evocative prose” and the vivid depiction of time and place, alongside an unforgettable cast of characters. She also commended Ganeshananthan’s “commitment to complexity and clear-eyed moral scrutiny,” which, combined with her spellbinding storytelling, renders “Brotherless Night” a “masterpiece” of historical fiction.
Pic: Women’s Prize Trust
Shortlisted Books for the Women’s Fiction Prize
VV Ganeshananthan – Brotherless Night (Winner)
Anne Enright – The Wren, The Wren
Kate Grenville – Restless Dolly Maunder
Isabella Hammad – Enter Ghost
Claire Kilroy – Soldier Sailor
Aube Rey Lescure – River East, River West
The Fiction and Non-Fiction prizes serve not only as a celebration of literary excellence but also as a critical step toward gender equality in the literary world.
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