Ann Patchett and Jane Harris longlisted for Orange Prize

March 08, 2012

The Orange Prize for Fiction, the UK's only annual book award for fiction written by a woman, has announced its 2012 longlist. Ann Patchett's State of Wonder and Gillespie and I by Jane Harris both feature on the list.

Now in its seventeenth year, the Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women's writing throughout the world. The announcement coincides with International Women's Day 2012. The judging panel includes bestselling author Joanna Trollope and BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.

State of Wonder, Ann Patchett's novel set in the Brazilian jungle, entered the New York Times hardcover bestseller list at number three and the combined print and e-book list at number four. It is also a New York Times Editor's Choice. A multi-award winning author, Ann received the Orange Prize in 2002 for her novel Bel Canto.

Gillespie And I, was nominated Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Galaxy National Book Awards 2011. It follows Jane Harris' hugely acclaimed debut novel, The Observations, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2007.

The shortlist for this year's prize will be announced on 17 April and the awards ceremony will take place on 30 May.