British-Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie wins the International Women’s Prize for Fiction with her seventh novel, Home Fire that was published last year.
Watch the moment that @kamilashamsie won the 2018 #WomensPrize for Fiction! ? pic.twitter.com/7WB9zifD6O
— Women’s Prize (@WomensPrize) June 6, 2018
Home Fire follows the story of British Muslim Isma, who is finally liberated from responsibility. Her sister Aneeka is a Londoner who falls in love with the son of a powerful British Muslim politician, which she hopes to use in order to save her missing twin brother who is drawn towards religious extremism.
It deals with the linkages between a Pakistani family, their bonds tightening and loosening, their fears and long-lost hopes, as well as terrorism.
Shamsie, 44, who was born in Karachi, but now lives in London was presented with the award worth £30,000 ($40,000) on Wednesday.
‘This shortlist is the best way of getting books into the hands of readers’
Here’s the wonderful 2018 #WomensPrize winner @kamilashamsie pic.twitter.com/u3oZt7vqAm— Women’s Prize (@WomensPrize) June 6, 2018
Our brilliant #WomensPrize shortlisted authors line up for their photocall with an hour and a half to go until the 2018 winner is announced! pic.twitter.com/b4KErbobwh
— Women’s Prize (@WomensPrize) June 6, 2018
According to Sarah Sands, a journalist who chaired the panel, Home Fire is about “identity, conflicting loyalties, love, and politics”, the Washington Post reported.
Shamsie’s work has been shortlisted for the annual prize, which is open to English-language fiction by women from around the world, twice before.
As Shamsie becomes the first Pakistani woman to bag this award, love from across the globe was pouring in for the author on social media:
Wonderful, wonderful news: @kamilashamsie has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction for Home Fire, ‘the story of our times’. https://t.co/DTWfmw76r9
— Declan Walsh (@declanwalsh) June 6, 2018
Kamila Shamsie wins Women’s prize for fiction for ‘story of our times’https://t.co/UAp39p4zVJ
— Ghazi Gheblawi (@Gheblawi) June 6, 2018
Kamila Shamshie wins the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction, with Home Fire, one of my favourite reads of the past year. Well deserved.
— Nina Nannar (@NinaNannarITV) June 6, 2018
The winner of the @WomensPrize for Fiction is HOME FIRE by @kamilashamsie!!!
— Nikesh Shukla (@nikeshshukla) June 6, 2018
Congratulations @kamilashamsie on winning the #WomensPrize! This makes you the first Pakistani to win this prize. I must say, it was a very well deserved victory. #HomeFire was a joy to read! ? https://t.co/veDDTTfTBh
— Sara Naveed (@SaraNaveed) June 7, 2018
Huge congratulations to @kamilashamsie, winner of the #WomensPrize 2018. A 21st century take on Antigone, Home Fire is a five-star hit on our website. Discover why readers love it so much here:https://t.co/I87RB7J34S pic.twitter.com/7oOeMghNIy
— Waterstones (@Waterstones) June 6, 2018
Big congratulations to @kamilashamsie for winning the 2018 #WomensPrize with the superb Home Fire. @WomensPrize https://t.co/ehFn3MyBxc
— Jude Cook (@judecook_) June 6, 2018
Congratulations !! @kamilashamsie #WomensPrize ??? pic.twitter.com/GplvJv6Nz5
— lyse doucet (@bbclysedoucet) June 6, 2018
And the @WomensPrize goes to @kamilashamsie for #HomeFires. Huge congrats! #WomensPrize pic.twitter.com/zPX4AQVZ4p
— Hannah Beckerman (@hannahbeckerman) June 6, 2018
