Téa Obreht wins 2011 Orange Prize
Twenty-five year old Téa Obreht has become the youngest winner of the Orange Prize to date. Born in Serbia, her family left the country during the Balkans war, living in Cyprus and Egypt before settling in the United States.
Her novel The Tiger's Wife, tells the story of Natalia, a young doctor who embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind her grandfather's sudden and mysterious death. The novel, written in the magical realism style, combines myth and folklore with the horrors of war.
Obreht was an unexpected winner with critics predicting that the award would go to Canadian writer Emma Donoghue for Room. Donoghue's novel was presented with the Orange Youth Prize, selected from the Orange Prize shortlist by a six-member panel of teenagers.
Canadian writer Kathleen Winter was also nominated for the award for her novel Annabel.
The Orange Prize honours the contributions of women in literature.
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One thought on “Téa Obreht wins 2011 Orange Prize”
I just finished reading this – it’s a smart page-turner – she’s a fantastic story-teller. And the tiger’s not just a metaphor – it’s a living, breathing force. Great book club choice…