Global writers on Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist

The literary award celebrates Swansea's Dylan Thomas, pictured here in 1948

Six young international writers have been shortlisted for the 2024 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize.

The award of £20,000 is given to writers aged 39 or younger for “exceptional” literary talent.

This year’s list includes writers from Ghana, England, Nigeria, the United States and Hong Kong, as well as a Welsh author.

Organisers said the prize, in memory of the Swansea-born writer who died in 1953 at the age of 39, was the world’s largest for young writers in the English language.

It celebrates the international world of fiction including poetry, novels, short stories and drama.

This year’s chairwoman of judges, Namita Gokhale, said the award had "an important role to play in recognising, supporting and nurturing young writers across a rich diversity of locations and genres".

She added: "It has been a truly rewarding adventure to immersively read through this creative spectrum of voices."

Among the shortlisted writers is Joshua Jones for his work Local Fires, a collection of short stories inspired by real people and events in his home town of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

The full shortlist is:

• A Spell of Good Things by Ayòbámi Adébáyò – novel (Nigeria)

• Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson – novel (UK/Ghana)

• The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore – novel (England)

• Bright Fear by Mary Jean Chan – poetry collection (Hong Kong)

• Local Fires by Joshua Jones – short story collection (Wales)

• Biography of X by Catherine Lacey – novel (US)

The winner will be announced on 16 May.