Charco Press's Of Cattle and Men by Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia, translated by Zoë Perry, won the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses in the U.K. and Ireland, the Guardian reported. Judge Sana Goyal called the book a "gut-punch of a novel," and judge Rebecca Abrams described Of Cattle and Men as "understated, mesmerizing and unflinching," and "both a tightly focused, utterly gripping human story and a devastating universal parable for our times." Judge Declan O'Driscoll said the novel's "unresolved nature leaves an indelible impression on the reader, making it an exceptionally powerful piece of literature."
A special mention was given to Out of Earth by Sheyla Smanioto, translated by Laura Garmeson and Sophie Lewis (Boiler House Press), which was praised by Abrams for its "irresistible power and passion" and its "stunning portrayal of love and violence" across four generations of Brazilian women.
The longlisted presses received £500 each. The shortlisted presses received an additional £1,000, each to be split up with 75% going to the press and 25% going to the author and translator. The Republic of Consciousness Foundation was set up to support small presses in the U.K. and Ireland. Since it was established eight years ago, it has distributed over £110,000 in prize money to more than 30 small presses.
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The shortlist has been selected for the £30,000 (about $37,400) 2024 Women's Prize for Fiction, championing "ambitious, inspiring and thought-provoking novels written by women in English." The winner will be announced on June 13.
The shortlist:
The Wren, the Wren by Anne Enright
Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville
River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan