Since it was established in 2014, the Rathbones Folio Prize has sought to set itself apart from existing literary awards. This means not just championing the finest contemporary writing, but looking to the future to promote a diverse and inclusive literary culture and nurture outstanding new talent.

At a ceremony at The British Library on Tuesday 8 May, Rathbones CEO Philip Howell hailed the “incredible books” on the shortlist and presented Richard Lloyd Parry with a cheque for £20,000 for his work, Ghosts of the Tsunami.

Listen to the authors talk about their shortlisted works – what they are about, and what they would like readers to take away with them. 

With less than a week to go before the winner of the Rathbones Folio Prize for 2018 is announced, Rathbones guests enjoyed an evening of discussion between two of the nominated authors and one of the judges. 

Two novels on this year’s Rathbones Folio Prize shortlist explore the difficulties of communicating and the different forms that communication takes in the 21^st century.

For more than a half-a-century, as people all over the world have left their homes in search of peace and prosperity, migration has been one of contemporary literature’s central subjects. 

Original, diverse and international – this year’s shortlist encapsulates what the Rathbones Folio Prize is all about. 

Access the first few chapters of all of the Rathbones Folio Prize shortlisted books digitally for free. Read just for yourself or chat online with others about this great selection of books not to be missed.