The essence of British and Irish literary excellence is in capable, innovative hands. The unveiling of the shortlist for the 2025 Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award has delivered a bold message to the establishment: the upcoming generation is not solely engrossed in their phones but is actively focused on dismantling the societal and political barriers of our era.
For more than three decades, this award has served as a premier platform for identifying the voices that mold our cultural landscape, featuring an illustrious list of past winners such as Zadie Smith, Sarah Waters, and Caryl Phillips.
This tradition of recognizing the “cream of the crop” endures with a shortlist characterized by its profound empathy and its unwavering commitment to confronting the harsh realities of society.
Johanna Thomas-Corr, the principal literary critic for The Times and Sunday Times and head of the 2025 jury, lauded the selected works as “boldly outward-looking” and deeply invested in “exploring society and our obligations to one another.”
This sentiment was echoed by a distinguished judging panel comprising cultural influencers and intellectuals like Caleb Femi, Esther Freud, Graham Norton, Sathnam Sanghera, and Lea Ypi. Their choices emphasize narratives that bridge divides and challenge the established order, providing a crucial counterbalance to the detachment often associated with the digital age.
The four contenders competing for the £10,000 prize offer a diverse range of perspectives. Ben Brooks presents “The Greatest Possible Good,” a comedic family saga that questions the very essence of a “good man” in a chaotic, contemporary world.
Gurnaik Johal’s inaugural novel, “Saraswati,” embarks readers on a global voyage as a protagonist uncovers a lost river in Northern India, unveiling the invisible connections that unite us across borders.
In addition, the poignant “Every One Still Here” by the mysterious writer Liadan Ní Chuinn delves into the enduring trauma of post-conflict Northern Ireland through a collection of short stories. By opting to remain anonymous, Ní Chuinn allows the raw, collective weight of history to speak louder than any individual identity.
Perhaps the most audacious of all is Harry Shukman’s “Year of the Rat,” a penetrating work of investigative non-fiction detailing his covert infiltration of far-right groups in the UK – a crucial contribution in a period marked by escalating extremism.
The journey to the winner’s circle will culminate at the Barbican Centre on Monday, March 23rd, where Booker Prize laureate and advocate for marginalized voices Bernardine Evaristo will moderate a discussion with the finalists.
This collaboration aims to ensure these groundbreaking narratives reach the hands of young individuals who stand to benefit the most, leveraging the Young Barbican program to democratize access to profound literature.
The ultimate showdown will occur the subsequent evening, Tuesday, March 24th, at the Whitechapel Gallery. In the vibrant and industrious East End of London, one of these courageous authors will be crowned champion, cementing their position in a lineage of distinguished writers.