The 2024 Republic of Consciousness winner is…
Of Cattle and Men by Ana Paula Maia,
translated by Zoë Perry & published by Charco Press
With the prize for Outstanding First Novel going to
Out of Earth by Sheyla Smanioto,
translated by Laura Garmeson & Sophie Lewis, published by Boilerhouse Press
What the judges said about Of Cattle and Men:
“A short, perfectly conceived and executed, gut-punch of a novel!”
- Sana Goyal
“Understated, mesmerising and unflinching, it is both a tightly focused, utterly gripping human story and a devastating universal parable for our times”
- Rebecca Abrams
“The novel's unresolved nature leaves an indelible impression on the reader, making it an exceptionally powerful piece of literature.”
- Declan O’Driscoll
What the judges said about Out of Earth:
"A novel of irresistible power and passion, Out of Earth is a feminist tour de force. A stunning portrayal of love and violence across four generations of Brazilian women”
- Rebecca Abrams
“In an outstanding translation by Laura Garmeson and Sophie Lewis – Out of Earth mesmerises the reader with a chorus of voices and perspectives”
- Declan O’Driscoll
Who are we?
The Republic of Consciousness supports, promotes and celebrates small presses in the UK and Ireland. Over seven years, the prize has awarded over £100,000 to publishers and authors.
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Book of the Month
We run a monthly Book of the Month subscription to raise funds for the prize, with books generously donated by a different small press every month. It’s a truly eclectic, high-quality list, and a great taste of what the small press scene is producing.
click here to see our 12 titles for 2024
We’re passionate about the small press community. That’s why we run this book club for interested readers, with books donated generously by the publishers themselves. While we rely on funding from our sponsors for the prize’s life and longevity, we are grateful for the additional support of our book club members. Subscribers are integral to our success and that of our beloved small presses - regular income allows us to guarantee and grow the prize every year.
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