Half
of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named ‘Best of the Best’
of the winners of the second decade of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.
The announcement was made on Monday night at a live event in the Piccadilly
Theatre, London.
The ‘Best of
the Best’ was chosen from the 10 novels that have won the prize in the past
decade. The chairs of the judging panels read from each of the 10 prize-winning
novels before the ‘Best of the Best’ was announced. “I have a lot of respect
for the books that have won in the past ten years and also for the books that
have been shortlisted – I feel I am in very good company,” Adichie said after
the announcement. “To be selected as ‘Best of the Best’ of the past decade is
such an honour. I’m very grateful and very happy.”
Half
of a Yellow Sun won the Bailey’s Women’s Prize in 2007 (when it was still known
as the Orange Prize). Muriel Gray, chair of judges, said: “While it’s sometimes
pompous to call a book ‘important’, it’s appropriate to say it of Half of a
Yellow Sun. Chimamanda’s achievement makes Half of a Yellow Sun not just a
worthy winner of this most special of prizes, but a benchmark for excellence in
fiction writing.” Syl Saller, chief marketing officer of Diageo, the Prize
sponsors, added: “It is a delight to shine a light on the women who have shaped
the literary landscape for the past decade. Chimamanda is an exceptional talent
and a truly worthy winner of the Best of the Best accolade.” The announcement
marks the climax of celebrations to mark 20 years of the prize. In a double win
for Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun was also the public’s choice for the “Best of
the Best” award in vote hosted on the BBC website.
The
Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is the world’s most prestigious annual book
award for fiction written by a woman. Established in 1996, it celebrates and
promotes fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers
possible.
Culled from: https://www.thecable.ng/chimamanda-adichies-book-named-best-best
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