Eleanor Catton and Samantha Harvey shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award

Congratulations to Eleanor Catton (THE REHEARSAL) and Samantha Harvey (THE WILDERNESS) for making up two of the five authors shortlisted for the Guardian First Book award. 

The Chair of the judges,the Guardian literary editor, Claire Armistead, said: "For the first time in the history of the award, four of the shortlisted titles are fiction.  I don't think this is mere coincidence; it reflects the power of good story-telling, and is a reminder that, despite regular cries that the novel is a dying art form, it is still the one we turn to."

The winner of the £10,000 award will be revealed on 2nd December.