Palestinian author Yasmin Zaher wins Dylan Thomas Prize
The Coin, which was released in paperback on May 1, 2025, was chosen unanimously by the judging panel.
It draws on Zaher's personal experiences to explore themes of identity and heritage.
Namita Gokhale, chair of judges, said: "The judging panel was unanimous in their decision to name debut novelist Yasmin Zaher as the winner of the 2025 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize.
"Zaher brings complexity and intensity to the page through her elegantly concise writing: The Coin is a borderless novel, tackling trauma and grief with bold and poetic moments of quirkiness and humour.
"It fizzes with electric energy."
Zaher was awarded the £20,000 prize at a ceremony in Swansea on May 15.
The prize celebrates exceptional literary talent aged 39 or under.
The other shortlisted titles for the 2025 prize were Rapture's Road by Seán Hewitt, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, I Will Crash by Rebecca Watson, and Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good by Eley Williams.
The 2025 prize was judged by Namita Gokhale, Professor Daniel Williams, Jan Carson, Mary Jean Chan, and Max Liu.
Yasmin Zaher joins a list of previous winners including Caleb Azumah Nelson, Arinze Ifeakandu, Patricia Lockwood, Max Porter, Raven Leilani, Bryan Washington, Maggie Shipstead, Guy Gunaratne, and Kayo Chingonyi.
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