Lifestyle, News, Review

Manchester Writing School graduate longlisted for Man Booker Prize

0 141

By Jacqueline Grima

It has recently been announced that Manchester Writing School graduate Wyl Menmuir has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Wyl, who graduated from the MA in Creative Writing Novel Route this year, has been recognised for his debut novel The Many, which he wrote as part of the MA programme. He is one of four debut authors to appear on the list.

The Man Booker is one of the UK’s top literary prizes and was established in 1969. The overall winner receives £50,000 whilst each shortlisted author wins £2,500. The 2016 judging panel includes Amanda Foreman, Jon Day, Abdulrazak Gurnah, David Harsent and Olivia Williams. Other authors on the longlist this year include JM Coetzee, AL Kennedy and Elizabeth Strout.wyl menmuir

The winner will be announced on 25th October.

The Many tells the story of Timothy Buchannan who experiences unsettling events when he buys an abandoned house in a small coastal village. Setting about renovating the house, he becomes increasingly disturbed by the behaviour of the villagers around him. The novel contains elements of gothic horror and sci-fi and explores the dynamics of village life and the impact of loss.

Manager of the Manchester Writing School James Draper told Humanity Hallows, “This is an amazing achievement for Wyl, and reflects the hard work, determination and focus he put into his studies. It’s also another Man Booker success story for our Nicholas Royle, who edited the book for Salt Publishing”

He added, “Nick also edited Alison Moore’s The Lighthouse, which was short-listed for the prize in 2012. We’re all absolutely delighted for them, extremely proud – and have our fingers crossed for a short-listing and win!

The Many is available from Salt Publishing and other retailers.

 

About the author / 

Jacqueline Grima

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • Kaytranada @ Co-Op Live review – a timeless performance

    Featured image and gallery: Jack Oliver After eight packed out performances across Europe Kaytranada arrives at Co-Op Live for his largest show on the European leg of his ‘Timeless Tour’. The 23,000 capacity venue is filled with excited fans who eagerly anticipate the start of the show after energetic performances from Pomo, Lou Phelps and…

  • From Feed to Feet: How gorpcore fashion has boosted communities of young men to walk and talk

    Featured image: Olivia Taberner and Adomas Lukas Petrauskas From Arc’teryx raincoats to mud-clogged Salomons, we explore how outdoor garments have evolved from fashion trends to functional wear – bringing together communities of young men in the process. What began as a Patagonia jacket and a sunrise ambition soon turned into getting “battered at 3am by…

  • The Success of Moss Side filmmaker Baka Bah: “Whenever I do say where I’m from, I automatically see labels pinging over my head”

    Featured image: Yas Lucia Mascarenhas and Adomas Lukas Petrauskas Manchester’s inner-city neighbourhood of Moss Side is often portrayed in the media as a dangerous area, plagued by knife crime and shootings. However, one resident and Manchester Met student – Baka Bah – believes this one-sided story doesn’t reflect the true spirit of his community. While…

  • Queer Lit: Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ bookstore on building a legacy in Manchester

    Featured image: Molly Goble and Nicola Henry In the last five years, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have risen by 112%, underscoring the critical need for safe, inclusive spaces where queer individuals can find a sense of belonging. Amid this crisis, Queer Lit has emerged as a sanctuary in the form of a literary refuge…