In a groundbreaking departure from tradition, the prestigious Forward Prize for Poetry has made literary history by naming its first-ever joint winners. Vidyan Ravinthiran and Karen Solie will share the coveted award and its £10,000 prize, creating an unprecedented moment in the competition's celebrated history.
A Revolutionary Decision
The judging panel, chaired by renowned poet and previous winner Joelle Taylor, found themselves unable to choose between the two exceptional collections. Ravinthiran was honoured for his powerful work Letter to the Earth, while Solie received recognition for her collection Short Haul.
'The quality was simply too high to separate them,' Taylor explained during the ceremony at London's Southbank Centre. 'Both collections represent poetry at its most vital and necessary. In recognising both voices, we celebrate the diverse power of contemporary poetry.'
Celebrating Diverse Voices
The joint victory highlights the remarkable diversity and strength of current British poetry. Ravinthiran, a Cambridge academic known for his sharp intellectual engagement, and Solie, a Canadian poet celebrated for her precise observational style, represent different but equally compelling approaches to the art form.
The decision breaks from the Forward Prize's established practice of naming single winners since its inception in 1992. This bold move signals the judges' commitment to recognising excellence wherever it appears, even when it means rewriting the rulebook.
Other Notable Winners
While the joint best collection prize captured headlines, other categories also celebrated outstanding talent:
- Best First Collection: Amina Jama for her debut No One Knows What to Say
- Best Single Poem: Andrew McMillan for The Children of the Mound
The Forward Prizes have consistently proven their ability to spot and celebrate poetry that resonates with both critics and general readers. This year's historic joint award ensures that two distinct and powerful poetic voices will reach the wider audience they so richly deserve.
