The organizers of one of the world's most prestigious literary awards - the Booker Prize - have announced the 2025 longlist. It includes 13 books by authors from 9 countries - the jury calls it the most international in the last decade. The themes of the list cover the search for identity, the boundaries of the modern world and chamber human stories.
Notable events include the return of Kiran Desai with her novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, which she worked on for nearly 20 years. The novel Flesh by David Szalay traces a character's life from adolescence to adulthood, and the One Boat by Jonathan Buckley is the shortest text on the list, but with strong emotional depth.
The full 2025 longlist:
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran Desai;
Audition - Kathy Kitamura;
Flashlight - Susan Choi;
Flesh - David Szalay;
Misinterpretation - Ledia Joga;
Seascraper - Benjamin Wood;
Endling - Maria Reva;
The Land in Winter - Andrew Miller;
The Rest of Our Lives - Benjamin Markowitz;
One Boat - Jonathan Buckley;
Universality - Natasha Brown;
The South - Tash Ouva;
Love Forms — Claire Adam.
The chairman of the jury for this year's award was writer and playwright Roddy Doyle. He was joined by actress Sarah Jessica Parker and writers Ayobami Adebayo, Kylie Reid and Chris Power.
The shortlist of 6 books will be announced on September 23, 2025 on stage at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London. We will find out the name of the winner on November 10 - the winner will receive £50,000.
Last year's award went to Samantha Harvey for her novel about astronauts Orbitdedicating it to “all who speak for the Earth and for the dignity of life.”
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
