van der Wouden, Clarke win 2025 Women’s Prizes
In the UK, the 2025 Women’s Prizes have been announced.
The SafeKeep by Dutch author Yael van der Wouden (Penguin) has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, while The Story of a Heart by UK author Rachel Clarke (Abacus) has won the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction.
Chosen as the fiction winner from a shortlist of six, The Safekeep depicts an unexpected relationship in the aftermath of WWII. The chair of judges for the fiction prize, Kit de Waal, called the book ‘that rare thing: a masterful blend of history, suspense and historical authenticity’.
‘Every word is perfectly placed, page after page revealing an aspect of war and the Holocaust that has been, until now, mostly unexplored in fiction. It is also a love story with beautifully rendered intimate scenes written with delicacy and compelling eroticism. This astonishing debut is a classic in the making, a story to be loved and appreciated for generations to come. Books like this don’t come along every day.’
The Story of a Heart, which depicts the journey of a human heart as narrated by Clarke in the context of a patient’s care, was also chosen from a shortlist of six. The chair of judges for the nonfiction prize, Kavita Puri, said of the book: ‘The Story of a Heart left a deep and long-lasting impression on us. Clarke’s writing is authoritative, beautiful and compassionate.’
‘The research is meticulous, and the story-telling is expertly crafted. She holds this precious story with great care and tells it with dignity, interweaving the history of transplant surgery seamlessly. This is a book where humanity shines through on every page, from the selfless act of the parents who gift their daughter’s heart in the depths of despair, to the dedication of the NHS workers. It is unforgettable, and will be read for many years to come.’
Both van der Wouden and Clarke will receive £30,000 (A$62,710).
Last year’s winners were VV Ganeshanathan for Brotherless Night (Viking) for fiction and Naomi Klein for Doppelganger: A trip into the mirror world (Allen Lane) for nonfiction.
Pictured [l-r]: van der Wouden, Clarke
Category: Awards International news
