Ruth Ozeki has won the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel The Book of Form and Emptiness (Penguin), about a thirteen-year-old boy who, after the tragic death of his father, starts to hear the voices of objects speaking to him.
The prize, now in its 27th year, is given for "outstanding, ambitious, original fiction written in English by women from anywhere in the world." It was announced at an awards ceremony in Bedford Square Gardens, central London, on June 15, hosted by novelist, playwright and Women’s Prize Founder Director Kate Mosse.
"In an extraordinary year for fiction written by women, and from an incredibly strong shortlist, we were thrilled to choose Ruth Ozeki’s The Book of Form and Emptiness, which stood out for its sparkling writing, warmth, intelligence, humor and poignancy," Mary Ann Sieghart, the 2022 chair of judges, said In awarding the prize. "A celebration of the power of books and reading, it tackles big issues of life and death, and is a complete joy to read. Ruth Ozeki is a truly original and masterful storyteller.’
Ozeki received a £30,000 ($36,500) prize, endowed by an anonymous donor, and the "Bessie," a limited-edition bronze figurine by Grizel Niven.
