The Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist 2019

The Dylan Thomas Prize is a popular award for young writers which is presented annually. The prize is named after the Welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas, best known for his poem "Do not go gentle into that good night". According to the website, the prize aims at "encouraging raw creative talent worldwide". To be eligible the author must have a book published in the English language and has to be under the age of 40.

The winner will be announced on 16th May.
Photo: twitter.com/dylanthomprize

This haunting book depicts how tensions in a city can shape the people in it. Set in London, the books shows the lives of three friends that change after riots protesting a soldier's death break out in a city.
Photo: Tinder Press

It is a collection of short stories all connected to each other. The bittersweet magic realism of this book is enthralling. The author had won Costa Short Story Award 2014.
Photo: Bloomsbury Publishing

Told from multiple perspectives, this interesting historical fiction tells the story of Robert Oppenheimer, the man who made the atom bomb.
Photo: Corsair

Set in Zimbabwe, this book follows a clever character called Zamani who goes to extreme lengths to create a family history for himself. The book is witty and the history it uncovers gives you an idea of how colonialism has affected Africa.
Photo: Atlantic Books

This gripping thriller mixes the past and present and brings magic to the modern world as the protagonist discovers a magical legend to be actually true. It starts with her friend finding a letter in the library and as they look into the letter, the friend mysteriously disappears.
Photo: Serpent's Tail