| .
|
The Idea of
Perfection: The Orange Prize The Idea of Perfection was unknown outside Australia, by an equally little-known author, when it won the Orange Prize in 2001. At 30,000 pounds sterling, the prize is Britain’s richest literary award. It’s awarded each year by a jury of women to a book written by a woman that demonstrates ”excellence, originality and accessibility”. The women-only aspect of the Orange prize has meant it’s been controversial since its inception in 1995. It was established when a group of women in publishing noticed that women’s writing was markedly under-represented on major prize lists. In 2001 there was a “shadow” panel of male judges – with no power to award the prize – to see whether the male and female panels would choose the same books. Of the 118 books submitted
that year, The Idea of
Perfection was on the only one on both male and female shortlists.
Announcing their list, head of the men’s panel, novelist Paul
Bailey said “The Idea of Perfection is an unpretentious,
seriously written book which also makes you smile.
It was a rare treat to read.” and commented that “ the male
jury would have chosen it as its winner, had the chaps been allowed to
choose one.” The other books
shortlisted in 2001 were: The Blind Assassin,
Margaret Atwood Fred and Edie,
Jill Dawson Homestead,
Rosina Lippi Horse Heaven,
Jane Smiley Hotel World,
Ali Smith The bookies’ favourite
was The Blind Assassin, at 7-4.
The outsider, at 7 to 1, was The Idea of Perfection.
|