About ‘Rural Hours’

In Rural Hours, Baker articulates the profound transformation experienced by these literary figures following their relocation to the countryside. Her narrative reveals how the change in environment influenced their creative processes and writings.

Background on Harriet Baker

Baker’s writing has previously appeared in esteemed publications such as the London Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, The Paris Review, and The New Statesman. In 2018, she was recognized with the Biographers’ Club Tony Lothian Prize, further establishing her credentials in literary biography.

Acknowledgment from the Judges

The award was presented after careful consideration of a diverse shortlist, as highlighted by Johanna Thomas-Corr, chair of judges and chief literary critic for The Times. She remarked on Baker as a “quietly confident debut,” expressing excitement about the impact of the book on literary criticism: “Harriet Baker’s Rural Hours has made me excited about literary criticism again. She has succeeded in her task of showing how transformative country life can be for a writer’s imagination.”

Shortlist Competition

Baker’s work emerged victorious over three other notable titles, including:

• Fast by the Horns by Moses McKenzie — a novel focusing on the Rastafari community in 1980s England.
• The Borrowed Hills by Scott Preston — a folkloric adventure marking his literary debut.
• Strange Relations by Ralf Webb — a non-fiction exploration of masculinity and bisexuality.

Each shortlisted author receives a cash prize of £1,000 and a one-year membership to The London Library, while the overall winner, Baker, will benefit from a two-year membership.

Expanding Literary Horizons

With this accolade, Baker joins the ranks of previous winners including Tom Crewe, Sally Rooney, and Max Porter, all of whom received recognition early in their careers. The announcement was made during a live ceremony in east London by Thomas-Corr and Sebastian Faulks, chair of the Charlotte Aitken Trust. Supporting the judging panel were established figures like Claire Adam, Andrew Miller, Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Tomiwa Owolade, and Justin Webb, who praised Baker’s attention to detail in her analysis of the three women writers.

“Rural Hours is an accomplished work – even more astonishing for being by an author so early in her career,” Adam shared. “Every time I returned to it, I admired more deeply Baker’s ‘quality of attention’ as she examines, in exquisite detail, the lives of these three women writers.”

Support for Authors

The Young Writer of the Year Award, managed by the Society of Authors, collaborates with partners such as Waterstones, which aims to enhance the visibility of the shortlisted and winning titles. Bea Carvalho, head of Books at Waterstones, expressed enthusiasm for Baker’s achievement, noting the award’s significant impact on elevating the profiles of its recipients.

On the eve of the ceremony, all shortlisted authors participated in an event at the Barbican Centre, featuring a conversation with former award winner Zadie Smith, reflecting a new initiative aimed at fostering connections for emerging writers.

The British Council continues to support the program by helping shortlisted authors establish international networks, while Granta Magazine will share excerpts from the nominated works online.