Compelling New Voices Shortlisted For BAME Short Story Prize

From Paralympic success in rural China to an unlikely friendship following the Grenfell Tower disaster, this year’s Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize shortlist is a panoramic exploration of contemporary cultures.

Now into its third year, the prize was set up to champion BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) writers, typically under-represented in the UK publishing industry. Six authors have been nominated for this year’s award, described by the chair of the judging panel, Anna Kelly, as “exciting and compelling new voices who stood out from the rest”.

Two of the shortlisted stories take place in China. Yiming Ma’s ‘Swimmer of Yangtze’ is an “impressively controlled and deeply melancholy” story about an armless swimmer whose community abandon him as he chases a Paralympic dream. Meanwhile, Jason Deelchand’s ‘Something Buried in the Ground’ is a story of environmental disaster told through the lens of history and folklore that’s set in the village of Xīliú.

Disaster also features in Savannah Burney’s ‘Spam’ in which a young girl, left homeless by the Grenfell Tower fire, turns up at the door of a misanthropic B&B owner. Though rooted in tragedy, it is described as a “funny, sparky story” by Kelly. “Burney imagines her characters brilliantly and her story stood out for its humour and warmth,” she said.

Gurnaik Johal – a student from West London – takes advantage of the short form’s proclivity for playfulness, in his story ‘The Piano’. Mourning the death of his wife and her beautiful piano-playing, a man leaves her piano out on the street for strangers to enjoy. The story – written with “enormous imagination, empathy and talent” – recounts how the instrument brings the community closer together.

Varaidzo’s ‘Bus Stop’, a story of friendship between two young girls, and Kit Fan’s ‘City of Culture’, set in a Chinese takeaway in the north of England, complete the shortlist.

The winner, who will receive £1,000 and a day’s publishing workshop with 4th Estate, will be announced in September 2018. The winning piece will also be published on the Guardian website. Previously shortlisted writers include Lisa Smith, who won with her story ‘Auld Lang Syne’, and Guy Gunaratne, whose book In Our Mad and Furious City was longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize.

Speaking about this year’s nominees, Kelly said: “I expect to see many of the shortlisted and longlisted writers signing with agents very soon.”

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.