London, 18 March 2009: The Orange Prize for Fiction, the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman, today announces the 2009 longlist. Now in its fourteenth year, the Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing from throughout the world.

find out about the longlist

'All the books on the longlist are there because each one, in its own way, is terrific in its ambition, quality and simple ability to entertain,' commented Fi Glover, Chair of Judges. 'We had a fabulous, if difficult, time narrowing the list down to 20 novels - and it's a wide open field.'

The Prize was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible and is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman in the English language.

“This year’s longlist reflects the exceptional diversity and calibre of international women’s fiction that the Orange Prize has championed since it began in 1996,” said Ian Smith, Head of Partnerships at Orange.

This year’s longlist honours both new and well-established writers, featuring six first novels alongside Toni Morrison who is longlisted for her ninth novel and Deirdre Madden who is listed for her seventh novel. Four authors appearing on this year’s list have previously been longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction, two of whom have also been shortlisted.

The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in The Ballroom at the Royal Festival Hall on 3 June.