The Sunday Times Literary Awards 2025 shortlists for non-fiction and fiction have been announced, highlighting a remarkable collection of South African literature that celebrates excellence in storytelling and intellectual integrity.
Sunday Times Literary Awards 2025 Overview
The awards mark the 35th anniversary of the non-fiction prize and the 24th year of the fiction prize, all in partnership with Exclusive Books. They honor outstanding works that demonstrate compassion, elegance, moral and intellectual integrity, and rare imagination.
Fiction Shortlist Highlights
The fiction shortlist features a dynamic range of literary voices, blending urban narratives, historical trauma, queer identities, and contemporary relationships. Notable shortlisted novels include:
- Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings
- God’s Pocket by Sven Axelrad
- Home Scar by SE Bhamjee
- The Comrade’s Wife by Barbara Boswell
- Good Hope by Nick Clelland
- In the Shadows by Olivia M Coetzee
Other compelling works explore themes from thrillers (Now You Suffer: A Ruben Ellis Thriller by Gareth Crocker) to explorations of identity and history (The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan, The Queer Book of Revelation by Siya Khumalo).
Non-Fiction Shortlist
The non-fiction prize honors books that illuminate truthfulness and confront power with new and delicate perspectives. This year’s panel, chaired by journalist Kevin Ritchie, includes scholar Hlonipha Mokoena and author Sewela Langeni, reflecting a diverse literary expertise.
The shortlisted non-fiction works embody moral depth and intellectual rigor, focusing on crucial societal themes, though specific titles from the shortlists were not detailed in the sources available.
Judging Panels and Criteria
The fiction panel is led by writer and academic Siphiwo Mahala with literary journalist Michele Magwood and physician-podcaster Alma-Nalisha Cele. They seek fiction that is stylistically rare and compelling enough to become an enduring landmark of contemporary literature.
The non-fiction panel, similarly discerning, values books that challenge prevailing narratives with elegance and intellectual rigor, often shedding light on lesser-known or unfashionable truths.
Significance and Impact
The Sunday Times Literary Awards not only spotlight the creative talents in South African literature but also highlight important social themes and diverse perspectives within the country’s complex cultural landscape. The awards continue to be a prestigious platform for writers whose works resonate locally and internationally.
The announcement of the shortlists has generated excitement in the literary community, with readers eagerly anticipating the winners, which will be announced in the coming months.
