Yael van der Wouden the first Dutch person to make Booker Prize long list

Dutch author Yael Van der Wouden has been longlisted for the Booker Prize with her book The Safekeep. The book, which has been translated as "The Safekeep" in the Netherlands, is one of the 13 contenders for the British literary prize.

‘This is timely and timeless fiction, in which there is much at stake.’

We are delighted to reveal the #BookerPrize2024 longlist. Huge congratulations to the authors who make up this year's Booker Dozen.

➡️ Discover the full list: https://t.co/3dQ2gnD1be pic.twitter.com/YciWPP7WHp

— The Booker Prizes (@TheBookerPrizes) July 30, 2024

It is the first time a Dutch author has made it onto the Booker Prize longlist. There have previously been Dutch contenders for the International Booker Prize. Lucas Rijneveld won this prize in 2020. Last year, Jente Posthuma had a chance with her book "What I'd Rather Not Think About."

According to the judges, Van der Wouden's book is "A remarkable debut about obsession and loss, set in an isolated Netherlands house. The author draws us into a world as carefully calibrated as a Dutch still-life."

Van der Wouden was born in Tel Aviv and raised in the Netherlands. According to the Jewish Chronicle, the Jewish writer currently lectures in creative writing and comparative literature in the Netherlands.

The Booker Prize for the best book of fiction written in English has been awarded in the United Kingdom every year since 1969. The prize comes with £50,000 in prize money. The International Booker Prize is awarded for books translated into English.

The shortlist will be announced on September 16. The winner will be announced on November 12.