Three novels exploring themes of how innocence can be lost have been shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize. Golden Child by Claire Adam, Hold by Michael Donkor and Devoured by Anna Mackmin are all in the running to win the £10,000 prize and be named the year’s best debut novel. The prize, named after the literary agent and publisher Desmond Elliott, is an annual award for a first novel written in English and published in the UK. Hold author Michael Donkor (David Yiu/PA)Last year’s prize was awarded to Preti Taneja for We That Are Young, with rights for the debut novel acquired for a television adaptation. “It is with great joy that we present the Desmond Elliott Prize shortlist for 2019.”Chair of the judges Alan Hollinghurst is joined on the judging panel by the literary editor of The Times, Robbie Millen, and managing director of the Booksellers Association, Meryl Halls.

Source: Irish Examiner May 09, 2019 22:52 UTC