Our Wives Under The Sea and The Whale Tattoo recognized for expanding LGBTQ+ literature
Julia Armfield and Jon Ransom have been honored with the prestigious Polari prizes for their novels that delve into LGBTQ+ experiences, with a common theme of water and the sea. Ransom’s debut novel, The Whale Tattoo, won the £1,000 Polari first book prize, while Armfield’s Our Wives Under the Sea was awarded the overall prize, accompanied by a cash award of £2,000. The winners were announced at a ceremony held at the British Library, where Paul Burston, the prize founder and chair of judges for both categories, commended the books for pushing the boundaries of LGBTQ+ literature.
The Whale Tattoo: Navigating Memories and Relationships
In The Whale Tattoo, protagonist Joe Gunner returns to his Norfolk fishing town, confronting difficult memories and reevaluating his relationships with those he left behind. Judge Adam Zmith, last year’s prize winner for Deep Sniff, described Ransom’s novel as suffused with salt air and gay longing. The book captivates readers with its evocative imagery of hostile locations and its exploration of love and energy in unexpected places.
Our Wives Under the Sea: Challenging Queer Writing
Armfield’s Our Wives Under the Sea revolves around Leah, who resurfaces from a disastrous deep-sea dive, and her wife, Miri, who grapples with the changes Leah underwent underwater. Judge Joelle Taylor, winner of last year’s prize for C+nto & Othered Poems, praised the novel for expanding the possibilities of queer writing. With its blend of strangeness, speculation, poetry, and thrilling storytelling, Our Wives Under the Sea is as captivating as it is thought-provoking.
A Diverse Shortlist
The Polari prizes also recognized other outstanding works in LGBTQ+ literature. The shortlist for The Whale Tattoo included None of the Above by Travis Alabanza, Rising of the Black Sheep by Livia Kojo Alour, The New Life by Tom Crewe, A Visible Man by Edward Enninful, and Love from the Pink Palace by Jill Nalder. Armfield’s Our Wives Under the Sea competed against Seán Hewitt’s All Down Darkness Wide, Okechukwu Nzelu’s Here Again Now, Jack Parlett’s Fire Island, Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo, and Sophie Ward’s The Schoolhouse.
Expanding LGBTQ+ Literature
Both The Whale Tattoo and Our Wives Under the Sea were commended for their ability to entertain, seduce, and provoke thought. These novels transport readers to different worlds, inviting them to explore diverse experiences. Paul Burston expressed excitement about the future works of these talented writers, eager to see how they will continue to push the boundaries of LGBTQ+ literature.
Conclusion:
The Polari prizes have recognized the exceptional contributions of Julia Armfield and Jon Ransom to LGBTQ+ literature. Their novels, The Whale Tattoo and Our Wives Under the Sea, respectively, tackle the complexities of LGBTQ+ experiences through the lens of water and the sea. These award-winning books not only entertain and captivate readers but also expand the possibilities of queer writing. As the winners of the Polari prizes, Armfield and Ransom have demonstrated the power of literature to challenge norms and provide a platform for diverse voices.
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