Samantha Harvey Wins 2024 Booker Prize
About the Winning Novel ‘Orbital’
British author Samantha Harvey has been awarded the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, a story set on the International Space Station. The book, described as a ‘space pastoral,’ follows the lives of six astronauts as they orbit Earth, capturing the beauty of sixteen sunrises and sunsets each day.
Prize Ceremony and Recognition
The award ceremony took place at London’s Old Billingsgate, where Harvey received the USD 64,000 prize. She is the first woman since 2019 to win this prestigious award. Edmund de Waal, Chair of judges, praised the book for its emotional depth and lyrical language.
Author’s Journey and Dedication
Harvey wrote Orbital during the COVID lockdowns, inspired by online footage from the ISS. Despite initial doubts about her authority to write on space, she dedicated the prize to those who advocate for Earth and peace.
About Samantha Harvey
Born in Kent in 1975, Harvey studied philosophy and has worked as a writer and sculptor. She is a tutor at Bath Spa University and has authored five novels. Her debut novel, The Wilderness, was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2009. Harvey’s work has been recognized with numerous literary awards.
Doubts Revealed
Samantha Harvey -: Samantha Harvey is a British author who writes books. She has written five novels and has won several awards for her writing.
Booker Prize -: The Booker Prize is a very famous award given every year to the best novel written in English. It’s like a big trophy for writers.
International Space Station -: The International Space Station is a large spacecraft that orbits Earth. Astronauts live and work there to learn more about space.
Space pastoral -: A ‘space pastoral’ is a story set in space that focuses on peaceful and beautiful themes, like nature stories but in space.
COVID lockdowns -: COVID lockdowns were times when people had to stay at home to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Many people used this time to do creative things, like writing books.
