Author behind 10 short stories scoops prestigious Wingate Prize

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.