Harry Shukman Wins Prestigious Young Writer Award for Chilling Far-Right Exposé
Debut author Harry Shukman has been awarded the Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award, a highly influential literary prize in the UK and Ireland, for his book Year of the Rat. The work is a shocking and eye-opening account of his year spent undercover within British far-right networks, revealing their operations, members, and methods of normalising extreme ideologies.
A Nail-Biting Journey into the Heart of Extremism
Shukman, a former news reporter now working as a researcher at the anti-fascist organisation HOPE not hate, undertook a perilous mission to infiltrate these groups. His experiences ranged from canvassing with Britain First to forming connections with Holocaust deniers, neo-Nazis, and even a race-science organisation backed by Silicon Valley. Throughout this endeavour, he repeatedly risked his safety and mental well-being to strip away the terrifyingly mundane facade of the far-right movement.
The judging panel, which included notable figures such as Caleb Femi, Esther Freud, Graham Norton, Sathnam Sanghera, and Lea Ypi, was chaired by Johanna Thomas-Corr. Thomas-Corr described Year of the Rat as "that rare thing: investigative journalism with the nerve of a thriller and the wit of a great piece of reportage." She further emphasised that by going undercover, Shukman exposes a world that is "by turns sinister, absurd and frighteningly close to the mainstream."
Judges Praise Courage and Literary Merit
The judges unanimously lauded the book for its exceptional qualities. Esther Freud remarked that it "reads like the perfect thriller. Nail bitingly tense, darkly funny, unexpectedly compassionate and urgently important." Caleb Femi noted its "suspense of a thriller, yet never loses its intellectual clarity or moral seriousness," while Sathnam Sanghera highlighted Shukman's "clarity, compassion and humour."
Sanghera added that the author's personal bravery is "humbling and inspiring," stating that "so many writers have been retreating in the face of a difficult world, but this book reminds us what we should do. We should face the world without flinching, and account for the complexity and pain before us." Graham Norton expressed that the book "confounded my expectations," calling it "brave and humane," and praising its "nuanced and insightful portrait of a world many of us would prefer not to see."
Competition and Legacy of the Award
Shukman was selected from a shortlist of four exceptional authors, described by Johanna Thomas-Corr as "courageous and defiantly outward looking." The other shortlisted works included:
- The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks, a comic novel exploring a father's quest to become a better man.
- Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal, a magisterial debut that animates the passions tying individuals to their histories.
- Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn, a short story collection blending the personal and political in narratives of pain, faith, and the legacy of the Troubles.
The announcement was made at a live ceremony in east London by Johanna Thomas-Corr, Chief Literary Critic for The Times and Sunday Times, alongside Sebastian Faulks, Chair of the Charlotte Aitken Trust. Shukman now joins an illustrious roster of past winners, including literary giants such as Sally Rooney, Zadie Smith, and Max Porter. The award was previously won by Harriet Baker for Rural Hours last year.
Background and Significance of the Prize
Sponsored by the Charlotte Aitken Trust since 2021, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award is presented annually to the best work of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry by a British or Irish author aged 35 or under. The prize includes a £10,000 award, underscoring its status as a major accolade for emerging literary talent.
Year of the Rat stands out not only for its thrilling narrative but also for its critical social relevance. By delving into the dark underbelly of far-right extremism, Shukman's work serves as a timely reminder of the importance of courageous journalism in confronting and understanding complex societal issues.
