The Gordon Burn Prize, celebrated for its recognition of daring, unconventional, and boundary-pushing literature, has unveiled its 2025 shortlist. Announced on January 23, the list is notably dominated by women authors, with five of the six shortlisted books penned by female writers. The prize, established in 2012, is renowned for its focus on literature that challenges norms, blurs genres, and explores bold, experimental narratives.
This year’s shortlist includes:
- Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel (Daunt Originals)
- Ootlin by Jenni Fagan (Hutchinson Heinemann)
- Mrs Jekyll by Emma Glass (CHEERIO)
- Poor Artists by Gabrielle de la Puente and Zarina Muhammad (The White Pube) (Particular Books)
- Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands (Phoenix)
- The Lasting Harm: Witnessing the Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell by Lucia Osborne-Crowley (4th Estate)
Diverse Voices and Innovative Stories
The shortlisted works traverse a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and memoir. They offer unique perspectives and tackle pressing societal issues. From a visceral novel about a fictional teenage boxing tournament (Headshot) to a gothic exploration of grief and modern womanhood (Mrs Jekyll), these books showcase the breadth of contemporary storytelling.
- Headshot: A vivid, raw depiction of a fictional boxing tournament for teenage girls.
- Ootlin: A harrowing memoir about growing up in the care system.
- Mrs Jekyll: A modern gothic tale examining womanhood and grief.
- Poor Artists: An incisive look into the art world, challenging its ties to capitalism.
- Only Here, Only Now: A coming-of-age story set in 1990s rural Scotland, offering insights into neurodiversity and adolescence.
- The Lasting Harm: A sobering account of Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial and its implications for justice in cases of exploitation and abuse.
The Judges and Their Vision
The 2025 judging panel, chaired by journalist and author Terri White, also includes Carl Anka, Angela Hui, Sarah Phelps, and David Whitehouse. Reflecting on the shortlist, White noted the powerful, boundary-breaking nature of the selected books.
“These six books bump up against the limits of fiction and non-fiction, insisting that they shift,” she said. “They’re the stories that followed us home, demanding to be heard.”
Judge Angela Hui echoed this sentiment, highlighting the innovative storytelling and bold narrative techniques featured in this year’s list.
A Prize Rooted in Literary Boldness
The Gordon Burn Prize was created to honor the legacy of its namesake, a writer who fearlessly challenged literary conventions. Gordon Burn’s work, spanning fiction and non-fiction, often interrogated history and reimagined reality. The prize seeks to celebrate writers who share his ethos, producing works that provoke thought and defy categorization.
Supported by New Writing North, Faber & Faber, the Gordon Burn Trust, Newcastle University, and the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA), the prize is open to all writers publishing in English in the UK. It awards the winner £10,000 and a writing retreat at Burn’s cottage in Berwickshire.
The Shortlist Event and Beyond
The winner of the 2025 Gordon Burn Prize will be announced on March 6, 2025, at Northern Stage in Newcastle upon Tyne. The event will feature readings from the shortlisted books and performances, both in-person and live-streamed.
Claire Malcolm, CEO of New Writing North, praised the shortlist for its focus on women’s stories and its ability to shed light on complex themes such as trauma, power, and art.
“This year’s powerful shortlist centres women’s stories and storytellers,” Malcolm said. “The list abounds with perspectives on trauma, power, and art. A tremendous and diverse range of books and writers, all worth reading.”
