The Booker Prize 2024 Winner has Been Announced - The Reading Agency
Samantha Harvey's novel "Orbital" has won the Booker Prize for 2024. Along with the prestigious award, she has been awarded £50,000 and received her trophy from Paul Lynch, the previous year's recipient, during a ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London.
The award-winning book was chosen from a pool of 156 titles that were released by publishers between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.
Orbital, the fifth novel and sixth book by Harvey, unfolds over a single day as six astronauts and cosmonauts live aboard the International Space Station. In the span of those 24 hours, they witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets, gazing at their tranquil blue planet as it rotates through continents and shifts with the seasons, revealing glaciers, deserts, towering mountains, and rolling oceans. This concise yet richly layered novel encourages us to appreciate the beauty of Earth while contemplating the significance of each human life, both individually and collectively.
British writer Harvey was included in the longlist for the Booker Prize in 2009 with her first novel, The Wilderness. The last time a British author won the award was in 2020, when Douglas Stuart took home the prize for Shuggie Bain. Harvey is the first female recipient since 2019, when it was awarded to both Bernardine Evaristo for Girl, Woman, Other and Margaret Atwood for The Testaments. She becomes the 21st woman to receive the award since the prize began in 1969. The 2024 shortlist marked a milestone in the 55-year history of the Booker Prize, featuring the highest number of women ever, with five female nominees alongside one male.
The judging panel for this year is led by artist and author Edmund de Waal. He is joined by celebrated novelist Sara Collins, Justine Jordan, the Fiction Editor at the Guardian, acclaimed writer and professor Yiyun Li, as well as musician, composer, and producer Nitin Sawhney.
In a remarkable year for literature, we stumbled upon a story that reflects a hurting world. There are instances when a book leaves you in awe, making you wonder how such a marvel came to exist. As judges, we set out on a mission to discover a book that touched our hearts—one that offered depth and significance, a story that we felt driven to share. We were seeking it all.
Orbital is our story. Samantha Harvey has crafted a novel inspired by the breathtaking beauty of sixteen sunrises and sunsets. The narrative encompasses everyone and no one, focusing on six astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they orbit the Earth, witnessing the ever-changing weather and the delicate nature of borders and time zones. Through her poetic language and sharp insights, Harvey transforms our familiar world into something extraordinary and fresh.
Throughout the year, we've embraced stories that focus on concepts rather than simply addressing issues. Instead of searching for clear answers, we've been more interested in rethinking what we seek to understand. Our shared appreciation for Orbital acknowledges its artistic merit and bold vision. It showcases Harvey's remarkable ability to deeply engage with the fragile and valuable world we all inhabit.
I’ll really miss this year’s judging panel. One member mentioned that she would hear the thoughts of the other judges in her mind while reading from now on, and I know I will also carry the impact of this panel’s thoughtful and compassionate approach to reading with me.
From a remarkable shortlist, they have selected as their winner a unique and powerful little book by Samantha Harvey. This talented author was last recognized on the Booker longlist 15 years ago, and since then, she has only solidified and expanded her exceptional talents.
Orbital takes the award during a year marked by geopolitical turmoil, which is expected to be the hottest year ever documented. This book explores a world "defined by the incredible power of human desire," depicting an "endless space" free from borders or barriers that can be seen from above. It portrays politics as a challenge to the world's tranquility, making the book both optimistic and relevant, with themes that resonate throughout the ages.
If you’re part of a library or organization and want to highlight the winner, you can grab a complimentary digital package from our store.
What are your thoughts on the winner of the 2024 Booker Prize? Have you had a chance to read the book, and do any of the titles that were nominated catch your interest for your to-be-read list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
We'd love to hear your opinions! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using the hashtag #BookerPrize2024.
Stay updated with all the current information on the Booker Prizes official website.
Looking to stay updated on all the latest news from our reading group? Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter!
