Persuad wins Commonwealth Writers’ Short Story Prize 2017

Ingrid Persaud from Trinidad and Tobago has won the 2017 Commonwealth Writers’ Short Story Prize for ‘Sweet Sop’, reports the Bookseller.

Persuad’s story explores ‘harrowing themes of fractured families, death and terminal illness, through the medium of chocolate’. It was chosen as the overall winning story from the five regional winners, with one for each of the Commonwealth regions of Africa; Asia; Canada and Europe; the Caribbean; and the Pacific.

Commonwealth Writers program manager Janet Steel said ‘Sweet Sop’ has ‘a fresh and unique voice that immerses the reader into the complexities of father and son relationships’. ‘A fine balance between humour, poignancy and sticky negotiations, we are delighted that this talented writer has received the recognition she so rightly deserves for this, her first short story,’ said Steel.

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, four Australians were among the 21 writers shortlisted for the prize.

Category: International news