Bernardine Evaristo, renowned for her refusal to adhere to traditional boundaries, has once again made headlines. The acclaimed novelist, known for her groundbreaking work, has been honored with the 100,000-pound Women’s Prize Outstanding Contribution Award. This prestigious accolade recognizes her significant impact on literature and her tireless efforts in championing underrepresented voices.
Evaristo, now 66, received this award in recognition of her contributions to advancing women and writers of color in the literary world. Her oeuvre includes a diverse range of works such as poetry, a memoir, and seven novels, notably “Girl, Woman, Other,” which won the Booker Prize.
“I follow wherever my imagination leads,” Evaristo remarked. She expressed a desire to avoid creating novels that take readers on a predictable emotional or moral path.
Already recognized for exploring various genres, including autobiographical fiction, historical settings, and alternate realities, Evaristo’s 2019 Booker Prize-winning novel “Girl, Woman, Other” marked a significant milestone. The novel is a complex narrative told from the perspectives of multiple diverse characters. Evaristo’s win was historic, making her the first woman of African descent to receive the prize since its inception in 1969.
Evaristo, who had been writing for decades before her Booker win at age 60, believes she was ready for the recognition, stating it altered her career trajectory significantly through increased book sales, international rights, and a host of new opportunities.
Her residence in a London suburb is a testament to her roots, featuring vibrant textiles, a significant wooden writing desk, and family photographs. Her background as the daughter of a Nigerian father and a white British mother often influences her work, blending genres in what she terms “fusion fiction.”
“Girl, Woman, Other” defies easy categorization, merging poetry and prose to exploit the nuances of language. Evaristo jokingly notes that the novel contains a mere 12 full stops, illustrating her unconventional approach to grammar. Despite the experimental style, readers embraced the novel, with over a million copies sold and endorsement by Barack Obama.
Evaristo credits her passion for poetry to her childhood experiences in Catholic church services, where the poetic rhythms of the Bible and sermons resonated with her. These influences permeate her novels, which often focus on stories of the African diaspora. Her novel “The Emperor’s Babe,” a verse novel set in Roman Britain, challenges preconceived notions about Black history in the UK.
Another novel, “Blonde Roots,” imagines a world where Africans enslave Europeans, highlighting her aptitude for alternate historical narratives. “Mr Loverman,” which explores the life of a closeted gay Caribbean immigrant, was adapted into a BBC series, showcasing her ability to portray diverse experiences.
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Women’s Prizes for English-language fiction and nonfiction, the latest award recognizes Evaristo’s extensive career. Kate Mosse, founder of the Women’s Prize, lauded Evaristo’s courage and imagination in offering readers diverse worlds across four decades.
Evaristo, a creative writing professor at Brunel University, plans to use the prize money to support other women writers, though the specifics of the project remain under wraps. Her dedication to leveling the playing field for marginalized writers is evident in her work with the Complete Works mentoring program, which significantly increased the number of published poets of color in the UK over a decade.
Evaristo continues to make pioneering strides in literature, following up “Girl, Woman, Other” with “Manifesto,” a memoir reflecting on her childhood experiences of racism and her relentless quest for creative freedom.
Firmly established in the arts world as a professor, Booker laureate, and Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Evaristo is also the president of the Royal Society of Literature. Her presidency marks a historical achievement as the first person of color and the second woman to hold the position, despite facing challenges in her efforts to diversify and modernize the Society.
Reflecting on the societal shifts since her childhood, Evaristo acknowledges the progress made in the UK but emphasizes the need for vigilance. The current political climate, she warns, may threaten the strides toward an anti-racist society, a cause she regards as vital to maintain and advance.