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James Tait Black Prizes 2023

The 2023 James Tait Black Prizes went to Fassbinder: Thousands of Mirrors by Ian Penman and Traces of Enayat by Iman Mersal, translated by Robin Moger (Biography) and Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright (Fiction). 10 books made the shortlist across 2 categories.

Winners

Biography

  1. Fassbinder: Thousands of Mirrors by Ian Penmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Traces of Enayat by Iman Mersal, translated by Robin Mogersource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Praiseworthy by Alexis Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)

Shortlist

Biography

  1. Always Reaching: The Selected Writings of Anne Truitt by Anne Truittsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lifescapes by Ann Wroesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. This Is Not Miami by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie Hughessource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Lori and Joe by Amy Arnoldsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Open Throat by Henry Hokesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Though the Bodies Fall by Noel O'Regansource (opens in a new tab)

About the James Tait Black Prizes

Fiction and Biography shortlists and winners; Drama (2012-2019) is excluded. Year is the prize year as the University labels it: the books' publication year, with winners announced the following summer (the 2024 prizes were announced in August 2025). Each book appears once, as Winner or Shortlist. 2023 Biography had joint winners. Shortlists from University of Edinburgh news releases (ed.ac.uk, cahss.ed.ac.uk, james-tait-black.ed.ac.uk, and a 2010 University Bulletin PDF for 2009) for 2009, 2010 and 2012-2025. Fallbacks where no university page survives: 2006 from RTE, 2007 from The Guardian, 2008 from BBC News, 2011 from Deadline News. Shortlist sizes vary: 6 per category in 2006, 5 in 2007-2009 and 2025, 6 Biography in 2023, 5 Biography in 2024, 4 otherwise.

Organization: University of Edinburgh. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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