This evening, Goldsboro Books announced the winner of their seventh Glass Bell Award, Costanza Casati for her evocative Greek retelling, Clytemnestra (Michael Joseph, May 2023).
The Award was presented at Goldsboro Books’ 25th birthday party, held in central London and the winner received a handmade glass bell, as well as £2,000.
Founded in 2017 by David Headley, the co-founder and MD of Goldsboro Books, the Glass Bell is awarded annually to a novel of any genre with “brilliant characterisation and a distinctive voice that is confidently written and assuredly realised”.
A thrilling tale of an unforgettable Queen, Clytemnestra beat out other shortlistees The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Mantle), In Memorial by Alice Winn (Viking), The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin (Simon & Schuster), Lady Macbethad by Isabelle Schuler (Bloomsbury Raven) and Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (Sandycove).
The judging panel said: “Clytemnestra is one of those books that just lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. At a time when women's voices are more important than ever, both past and present, this book pays homage to that in the best way possible, by giving us a story about one of the most interesting women in Greek mythology - often simply referred to as 'Agamemnon’s wife’. This book gives her a voice, and what a voice it is! Totally unforgettable.”
Last year, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo was the Award’s recipient for When We Were Birds (Hamish Hamilton), with the judging panel praising the book as “radiant and powerful”.
