Bath Spa University Professor of Creative Writing Tessa Hadley has been shortlisted for the prestigious award for her story Bad Dreams.
This is the second successive year in which the prize has featured an all-women shortlist.
Professor Hadley’s Bad Dreams elegantly and precisely captures the moment when a child’s unexpected awakening exposes the unease and isolation lurking beneath the surface of her home life.
The BBC National Short Story Award celebrates the best of contemporary British short fiction and is one of the most prestigious prizes for a single short story.
The shortlist was selected from over 550 entries and features an all-star line-up of acclaimed writers, the majority of whom are established masters of the short story form.
Professor Hadley who herself is the author of two collections of short stories in addition to five novels, is joined by Francesca Rhydderch (The Taxidermist’s Daughter), Lionel Shriver (Kilifi Creek), Zadie Smith (Miss Adele Amidst the Corsets) and Rose Tremain (The American Lover).
Commenting on being shortlisted, Professor Hadley said: “I’m just delighted; because I love short stories so much, it’s an award I always look out for. Some wonderful writers have been shortlisted in the past; it’s an honour to be included among them.
“I love the irresponsibility of short stories. In a novel when you dream up some detail in passing you know you will have to pick it up at some point later, and weave it into the long fabric of the whole. In a short story everything is done once only, stands by itself; that gives the form its intensity.”
The Award, run in partnership with Booktrust, gives £15,000 to the winning author, with the runner-up receiving £3,000 and the remaining three collecting £500 each.
Tremain and Shriver have both been shortlisted for the prize before.
The stories will be broadcast on Radio 4 from 22nd September by actors including Carey Mulligan and Rebecca Hall, with interviews with the writers on Radio 4’s “Front Row”.
The announcement of the Award winner and runner-up will be broadcast live from the Award ceremony on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row at 7:15pm on Tuesday 30th September.
The Creative Writing course at Bath Spa has produced many successful graduates during its 20 year history.
Course tutors are themselves respected writers and their links with the publishing industry are invaluable to graduates.
Since 2012, the University has appointed a number of new Professors of Creative Writing including Tessa Hadley, as well as Naomi Alderman, David Almond, Aminatta Forna, Philip Hensher, Kate Pullinger and Fay Weldon CBE.
