Bath Spa University Writing Graduate Shortlisted for Guardian First Book Award

Samantha Harvey, a graduate from Bath Spa University’s MA Creative Writing course, has been shortlisted for the Guardian First Book award. Her debut novel, The Wilderness, is one of five titles nominated for the £10,000 prize, which is for works of fiction or non-fiction by newcomers.

Samantha Harvey, achieved an MA with distinction from the Bath Spa University Creative Writing course in 2005 and is now studying there for a PhD.

This year Samantha has already won the Betty Trask Prize for first-time young Commonwealth novelists. She was also shortlisted for the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction and, most recently, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

The Wilderness, published by Jonathan Cape, tells the powerful and moving story of an architect in his sixties with Alzheimer’s. As dementia takes hold Jake Jameson cannot remember whether his daughter is alive or dead or why his son is in prison.

The winner of the Guardian First Book award will be announced on Wednesday 2 December.

For more information go to www.bathspa.ac.uk