Australian Glenda Guest wins Commonwealth Writer’s Prize
AUSTRALIAN author Glenda Guest’s Siddon Rock has been named best first book as part of the 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.
Guest collected $8,250 yesterday following judging in New Delhi for the awards, organised by the Commonwealth Foundation.
Siddon Rock explores the effect of World War II on a small Australian town after a nurse who was caught up on the front returns home.
“I’m standing here like a stunned mullet,” Guest told The Guardian.
“It’s not about the money, it’s not about the credit, it’s about being given verification that this is any good, that I can actually write.”
UK-born writer Rana Dasgupta, who lives in India, won the best book prize for Solo.
Commonwealth Foundation director Mark Collins said: “The two books chosen by the judges are ones that take us on unexpected journeys and challenge our conventional assumptions.”