Bernardine Evaristo has launched a new literary prize for British women writers over the age of 60, the Guardian reports.
The Booker Prize–winning author of Blonde Roots and Girl, Woman, Other, who is president of the Royal Society of Literature, has founded the RSL Pioneer Prize. Administered by the society, the new award “will acknowledge and celebrate pioneering British women writers—across all genres—who have been trailblazers in their field in the past, when it was more challenging for women to have successful careers as writers.”
The prize will be awarded annually for 10 years, funded by the money Evaristo received when she was honored with the one-time Women’s Prize Outstanding Contribution Award. Each year, the winning author will receive a cash prize of 10,000 British pounds, about $13,650.
The inaugural winner of RSL Pioneer Prize is Maureen Duffy, 91, a playwright, poet, and novelist whose books include The Microcosm, The Paradox Players, Wounds, and Gor Saga.
“I hope this encourages writers to keep on writing, because it is a hard thing to support yourself as a writer in this country,” Duffy said.
Evaristo personally selected Duffy as the winner of this year’s award, but future prizes will be chosen by a jury of literary professionals.
“It's very easy to forget the earlier feminist struggles & the intrepid women who paved the way for successive generations, & it’s important to celebrate our pioneers while they are STILL AROUND to enjoy it: to remember them, to thank them, to honour them,” Evaristo wrote in a post on Instagram.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
