Hosein wins Commonwealth Writers’ Short Story Prize 2018

Kevin Jared Hosein, from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, has won the 2018 Commonwealth Writers’ Short Story Prize for the short story ‘Passage’.

Hosein’s short story explores ‘a midlife crisis-ridden protagonist into the wilderness in search for a mystery woman—with unforeseen consequences for others, and for himself’. 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.

‘I just felt pride—not just in me but in my country,’ Hosein told the Guardian. ‘There is not much opportunity in the Caribbean to make a name for yourself. I think the prize has helped with that.’

Chair of judges Sarah Hall praised ‘Passage’ for being ‘tightly woven and suspenseful, beautifully and eerily atmospheric, and finally surprising.’ Hall said, ‘It is, in essence, all a reader could want from the short story form; a truly crafted piece of fiction that transports the reader into another world, upends expectations, and questions the nature of narratives and narrative consequence.’

Hosein, whose winning story was chosen from a shortlist of 24, was awarded the £5000 (A$8850) prize in Cyprus on 25 July. Previously, he was a Caribbean regional winner for the prize in 2015.

Ingrid Persaud, another writer from Trinidad and Tobago, won the 2017 Commonwealth Writers’ Short Story Prize, for her story ‘Sweet Sop’.

Category: International news