30 Oct 2012
Will Ferguson has been named the 2012 winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize for his novel 419, published by Viking Canada/Penguin Canada. The announcement was made at a black-tie dinner and award ceremony hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, attended by more than 500 members of the publishing, media and arts communities. The gala was live-streamed on CBC Books and aired on CBC Television at 9 p.m. (9.30 p.m. NT).
The largest annual literary prize in the country, the Scotiabank Giller Prize awards $50,000 to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection published in English and $5,000 to each of the finalists. This is the 19th year of the prize. A shortlist of five authors and their books was announced on October 1, 2012. Those finalists were:
Will Ferguson for his novel 419, published by Viking Canada/Penguin Canada
Alix Ohlin for her novel Inside, published by House of Anansi Press
Nancy Richler for her novel The Imposter Bride, published by HarperCollins Publishers
Kim Thúy for her novel Ru, translated by Sheila Fischman, published by Random House Canada
Russell Wangersky for his short story collection Whirl Away, published by Thomas Allen Publishers
The shortlist and ultimate winner were selected by the esteemed three-member jury empanelled for the 2012 prize: Irish author and screenwriter Roddy Doyle; Canadian publisher, writer and essayist Anna Porter; and American author and satirist Gary Shteyngart.
Of the winning book, the jury wrote:
"Will Ferguson's 419 points in the direction of something entirely new: the Global Novel. It is a novel emotionally and physically at home in the poverty of Lagos and in the day-to-day of North America. It tells us the ways in which we are now bound together and reminds us of the things that will always keep us apart. It brings us the news of the world far beyond the sad, hungry faces we see on CNN and CBC and far beyond the spreadsheets of our pension plans. Ferguson is a true travel writer, his eye attuned to the last horrible detail. He is also a master at dialogue and suspense. It is tempting to put 419 in some easy genre category, but that would only serve to deny its accomplishment and its genius."
Travel writer and novelist Will Ferguson is the author of several award-winning memoirs, including Beyond Belfast, Hitching Rides with Buddha, and most recently the humour collection Canadian Pie. His novels include Happiness™, Spanish Fly and 419. Nominated for both an IMPAC Dublin Award and a Commonwealth Writers Prize, and a three-time winner of the Leacock Medal, Ferguson’s work has been published in more than 20 languages around the world.
During tonight’s award ceremony, a roster of celebrity presenters - Measha Brueggergosman, Kim Cattrall, Alan Hawco, Rosannagh "Rosie" Maclennan and Rick Mercer - introduced the shortlisted authors and presented video profiles highlighting their nominated books.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2012, CBC/Radio-Canada has been serving Canadians for 76 years, being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
About CBC Books
CBC Books features all of CBC’s rich literary content across all platforms - audio, video and digital. This one-stop destination for book lovers includes in-depth information on books, exclusive interviews with authors, the latest news stories from the publishing world, book reviews, best-seller lists, discussions and blogs. It’s an online meeting place where literary enthusiasts can find the books they want to read, connect with other Canadians who love to read as much as they do, and keep up on all of CBC’s major literary events and programs such as Canada Reads, the Massey Lectures and Canada Writes.
Listen to CBC Radio One's Q at 10:06 tomorrow for Jian Ghomeshi's interview with Will Ferguson and replay the gala on CBC Books
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, ‘Bright Future’. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $45 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit at www.scotiabank.com
The Scotiabank Giller Prize awards $50,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection published in English and $5,000 to each of the finalists. The Scotiabank Giller Prize is named in honour of the late literary journalist Doris Giller and was founded in 1994 by her husband Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch.
Please visit us at:
www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca
www.facebook.com/gillerprize
www.twitter.com/gillerprize
For more information, please contact:
Elana Rabinovitch
O: 416.934.0755 C: 416.275.5418