Spanning fiction, nonfiction and poetry, the four shortlisted authors – announced in February 2025 – will perform readings from their work and provide insight into their practice.
The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award is UK and Ireland’s most influential prize for emerging literary talent. Since its inception in 1991, it has been committed to finding the most talented young writers that represent the best in British and Irish writing, including previous winners Sally Rooney, Jay Bernard, Raymond Antrobus and Max Porter.
Zadie Smith is a critically acclaimed writer of novels, essays, short stories and more, including White Teeth, NW, Swing Time, On Beauty, Intimations and The Wife of Willesden. She won the The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award in 2001.
The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award is given annually to the best work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry by a British or Irish author aged 35 or under.
The winner of this year's award will be announced on Tue 18 Mar.
Image by Ben Bailey-Smith