Bernardine Evaristo is set to be awarded £100,000 as part of the Women’s Prize for Fiction’s Outstanding Achievement Award. The one-time prize celebrates the 30th anniversary of the award, which recognizes women’s contributions to literary fiction.
Evaristo, author of notable works such as “Girl, Woman, Other” and “Mr Loverman,” will be honored for her entire writing career and her “transformative influence” on literature. She has been celebrated for her dedication to uplifting voices that have been traditionally underrepresented in the literary sphere.
Beyond her prolific writing career, Evaristo is known for her initiatives. She co-founded Britain’s first black women’s theatre company and has publicly supported female writers and those from diverse backgrounds. She recently launched the RSL Scriptorium awards, providing a writing retreat opportunity at her Kent cottage for 10 authors annually.
Upon receiving the news, Evaristo expressed deep gratitude and joy, calling the award an “unexpected blessing.” She intends to use the prize money to support other women writers, with further details to be provided on how she plans to do so.
The prize, funded by Bukhman Philanthropies, aims to honor the Women’s Prize for Fiction’s founding principles of amplifying women’s voices and promoting their involvement in writing.
In addition to the monetary award, Evaristo will receive a sculpture titled “Thoughtful” by artist Caroline Russell. The award ceremony will take place on 12 June, alongside the announcement of the Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Nonfiction winners.
The judging panel for the prize included renowned author Kate Mosse, who also founded the Women’s Prize, alongside a diverse group of past judges. Eligibility for the award required authors to have published at least five books and have been previously longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/04/bernardine-evaristo-wins-womens-prize-outstanding-contribution-award
