Author behind 10 short stories scoops prestigious Wingate Prize
Nicole Krauss’s ten unsettling works, called To Be A Man, scooped the honour, with judges praising it for being “original and beautifully written”.
The author behind a ‘staggering and powerful‘ collection of stories has been awarded one of the Jewish world’s foremost literary prizes.
Nicole Krauss’s ten unsettling works, called To Be A Man, scooped the prestigious Wingate Prize for 2022, with judges praising it for being “original and beautifully written”.
It tells stories spanning multiple continents and was written over an 18-year period, exploring issues including intimacy and history.
The award, which is now in its 45th year, is given out to authors whose works translate Jewishness to a general audience. The winner receives £4,000, and both fiction and non-fiction can be submitted.
In response to the accolade, Nicole Krauss said she was “so honoured”, praising the “excellent company of the other short-listed writers”.
“At a time when antisemitism is everywhere on the rise, a dedication to Jewish themes and a deep engagement with the question of what it means to be Jewish feels as important as ever.”
This year’s panel of judges, who praised the staggering, powerful work, of Krauss, included New Statesman political editor Stephen Bush, the Senior Rabbi of the S&P UK Sephardi Community, Rabbi Joseph Dweck, award-winning novelist M.J. Hyland and Women’s Prize longlisted author Jemma Wayne.
Rabbi Dweck, chair of the judges, said: “In a short list of seven excellent books, Nicole Krauss’s To Be A Man is a collection of remarkable stories.
“It is a contemporary and beautiful piece of writing, which is original in its approach and cohesive as a collection.
“In each story the themes emerged organically and we particularly admired the fact that the subject matter supported the literature rather than the literature being subordinate to it – a testament to Krauss’s special talent as a writer.”
The prize was launched in 1977 by Harold Hyam Wingate, and is now run in association with JW3.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
