Introduction to the Award
A Palestinian writer has been awarded a prestigious literary award from Swansea University, named after the famous writer Dylan Thomas. The award is given to young writers under the age of 39, in honor of Dylan Thomas’s life and work. This year’s winner, Yasmin Zaher, received £20,000 for her debut novel, "The Coin".
About the Winning Novel
"The Coin" tells the story of a wealthy Palestinian woman living in America, who struggles with trauma and grief. The jury described the novel as "limitless" and praised its "brave and poetic moments of quirking and humor". The novel’s unique blend of themes and literary style impressed the judges, who unanimously decided to award Zaher the prize.
The Award Ceremony
Yasmin Zaher, born in Jerusalem in 1991, received the award at a ceremony in Swansea on Thursday evening. The chairwoman of the 2025 judges, Namita Gokhale, praised Zaher’s writing, saying that she "brings complexity and intensity to the page with elegantly concise prose". Gokhale also noted that the jury had a difficult task choosing a winner from the longlist of twelve brilliant books, but ultimately decided on Zaher’s debut novel.
The Selection List
The full selection list for the 2025 award included:
- "Rapture’s Road" by Seán Hewitt – a poetry collection from the UK/Ireland
- "Wonderful heroic deeds" by Ferdia Lennon – a novel from Ireland
- "The SafeKeep" by Yael van der Wouden – a novel from the Netherlands
- "I will crash" by Rebecca Watson – a novel from the UK
- "Medium to arm, occasionally good" by ELEY Williams – a short story collection from the UK
These books showcased a diverse range of literary talent from around the world, but ultimately, Zaher’s "The Coin" stood out as the winner.
Conclusion
The Swansea University Dylan Thomas award is a prestigious recognition of young literary talent, and Yasmin Zaher’s win is a testament to her exceptional writing skills. Her debut novel, "The Coin", is a powerful exploration of themes such as trauma, grief, and identity, and its recognition by the award judges is well-deserved. As a young writer, Zaher’s future in literature looks bright, and her win is an inspiration to aspiring writers around the world.
