Philip Pullman’s latest novel is on the shortlist for this year’s coveted title of Waterstones Book Of The Year.
La Belle Sauvage: The Book Of Dust Volume One – the author’s hotly anticipated sequel to his popular His Dark Materials series – is among a list of seven entries, which also includes this year’s Man Booker Prize winner, Lincoln In The Bardo by George Saunders.
The varied list, nominated by Waterstones booksellers, is made up of a diverse range of publications, including a biography, an economics title and two illustrated children’s books.
Mr Lear: A Life Of Art And Nonsense is Jenny Uglow’s exploration of the life of 19th century poet and artist Edward Lear, while The Lost Words sees Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris celebrate the relationship between language and the natural world.
This year’s shortlist also champions inspirational women through Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo’s Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls and Frances Hardinge’s war-based fantasy A Skinful Of Shadows.
Meanwhile, rock star economist and self-proclaimed Europhile Yanis Varoufakis refers to personal stories and famous myths relating to capitalism in Talking To My Daughter About The Economy.
James Daunt, managing director of Waterstones, said: “This has been a quiet year of publishing, quiet not in quality but in the absence of bestseller thunder.
“This brings out the best in our booksellers who in their magpie way have picked out all manner of jewels. They have given us a shortlist of variety and great quality, and as usual a few real discoveries.
“Whilst we are not alone this year to find that a vote can spring a surprise, ours is a wholly satisfying result.”
The final award winner, who will be revealed on November 30, will receive support from Waterstones in both UK shops and online.
The full Waterstones Book Of The Year shortlist includes:
Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls, by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo.
A Skinful Of Shadows, by Frances Hardinge.
The Lost Words, by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.
La Belle Sauvage: The Book Of Dust Volume One, by Philip Pullman.
Lincoln In The Bardo, by George Saunders.
Mr Lear: A Life Of Art And Nonsense, by Jenny Uglow.
Talking To My Daughter About The Economy: A Brief History Of Capitalism, by Yanis Varoufakis.
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