The International Union of Writers summed up the results of the London Award
The International Union of Writers summed up the results of the London Award
For the International Union of Writers, the year 2021 began with the summing up of the
results of the International London Literary Award that organized jointly with the British Union
of Writers.
The award has several goals: to discover talented authors, to create conditions for the
development of their creative abilities, to preserve and multiply cultural traditions.
The work on this large-scale project had been going on for five years. More than 500
writers from different countries were selected: Isaac Adamson (USA), Melvin Burgess (UK),
Richard Glover (Australia), Antjie Krog (South Africa), Laimonas Tapinas (Lithuania) and many
others. Among them there were writers from Russia — Vladimir Kolykhalov, Aleksei
Barkhatov, Galina Shchekina, Sergei Tarmashev, Sergei Lukianenko, Sergei Volkov and others.
The applications of the participants were considered and selected by readers. For the
evaluation of the works to be more objective, the prize was awarded in six nominations: major
and minor prose, poetry, criticism, drama, fiction and literary translation.
Not only debutants, young poets and prose writers, but also recognized masters of
literature could take part in the international project. And to equalize the participants’ chances of
winning, the authors were divided into three categories:
— megastars;
— stars;
— new authors.
The first stage of applying for the London International Award started on 1st of September
2018 The contest was open to works written in Russian or English.
The long list of works was selected by expert readers and published on the website of the
International Union of Writers on 31st of May 2019 The authors, who made this list, were
awarded the title of “Best author of the year” and they got the chance to publish a book in the
series “The London Award presents a writer”.
The grand jury formed a short list for the London Award, which was based on above
mentioned long list. The short list was published at the end of 2020 It includes 222 talented
participants who, in addition to the above listed regalia, received the opportunity to be mentioned
in the catalog in English for the work of the producers of the International Union of Writers with
English-language publishers.
The final stage of the project was the determination of the finalists by a small jury, which
consisted of prominent literary critics. Those, who participated in the finals, received medals and
prizes, as well as diplomas and certificates for participation in international programs of the
International Union of Writers.
The winners of the International London Award were determined by counting the points
awarded to the work by the jury members. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the final ceremony
could not traditionally be held in London, so the results were announced in an online format.
The winners of the award:
Dan Brown (USA), Wendy Orr (Australia), Carol Ann Duffy (UK), Victoria Levina
(Israel), Taufik Karimov (Kazakhstan), Lee Mi-Jung (Canada), Pavel Gubin (USA), Igoni
Barrett (Nigeria), Han Kang (South Korea), Luna El (France), Alice Lippart (Norway), Oleg
Stelman (Lithuania), Saria Mammadova (Azerbaijan) and others.
Authors from Russia: Svetlana Angarskaia, Sasha Krugosvetov, Anatolii Obiedkov, Olga
Chernienko, Varshavskaia Iana, Viacheslav Egiazarov.
The London International Award has undoubtedly become a personal breakthrough for
each author and a significant step for the literary community as a whole. This event gave many
writers the opportunity to enter the world stage and win over a foreign audience.
Press Service of the International Union of Writers
Laureates of International London Literary Award In category “Megastars” – the acknowledged masters
Laureates of International London Literary Award In category “Professionals”
Laureates of International London Literary Award In category “Stars” – famous authors© The International Union of Writers, 2013-2023.