For some people it's the first cuckoo. For Ottery residents it used to be the first driver to wind down a window and ask for directions to Otter Nurseries - though global warming means that's a year-round feature now. For librarians it's the announcement of the Orange prize longlist.....
In 1992 a group of men and women involved in publishing - journalists, reviewers, agents, publishers, librarians, booksellers - decided to try to introduce a prize that would be less traditional and that would put readers at the centre. They were concerned that many of the biggest literary prizes often appeared to overlook wonderful writing by women, and hence readers, both male and female, were missing out on fantastic novels by women that they'd really enjoy.
With prize money and a “Bessie” award already donated anonymously, the committee found a partner in Orange – and in 1996 the prize was launched ….. to considerable media attention (not all of it positive!) Each year sees “add ons” – educational and lifelong learning initiatives running parallel to the main prize - while the books themselves are remarkably long-lived, continuing to sell and issue well years later.
