TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Compilation of twelve literary non-fiction titles includes two previous Taylor Prize winning authors
Noreen Taylor, chair of the Charles Taylor Foundation and founder of the RBC Taylor Prize today announced the Longlist for 2015. Founded in 1998, the RBC Taylor Prize is Canada's most prestigious award for literary non-fiction. This year's jurors, Ms. Kevin Garland, Martin Levin, and Andrew Preston, reviewed and debated the merits of 118 submissions from Canadian authors. The following twelve longlisted books are undergoing further scrutiny as the jurors work toward finalizing the 2015 Shortlist, scheduled for release at a press conference on Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 at the Omni King Edward Hotel. The winner announcement will be made on March 2nd also at the Omni King Edward Hotel.
"The 2015 Longlist illustrates the amazing growth and maturation of the genre of literary non-fiction in this country," explains Mrs. Taylor, "The dozen authors whose works our jury has chosen have written books that clearly demonstrate Canada's expanded interest in ALL matters that effect the Global Village. Be they resident here in Canada, or the UK or Europe, our treasured authors articulate with a shared Canadian vision. The RBC Taylor Prize sees the release of this Longlist, at the height of the holiday gift giving season, as an opportunity for readers to familiarize themselves with that unique Canadian voice."
The 2014 RBC Taylor Prize Longlist:
There are two Longlisted authors with previous affiliations with the Prize this year; they are Dr. Tim Cook and Charles Montgomery. Tim Cook won the 2009 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction for Shock Troops: Canadians Fighting The Great War, 1917-1918. His Warlords: Borden, Mackenzie King and Canada's World Wars was a finalist for the 2013 Prize and he served as a juror in 2010. Charles Montgomery won the 2005 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction for The Last Heathen: Encounters with Ghosts and Ancestors in Melanesia.
About The RBC Taylor Prize
The RBC Taylor Prize is awarded annually to the author whose book best combines an excellent command of the English language, an elegance of style, quality of thought, and subtlety of perception. The Prize consists of $25,000 for the winning author and $2,000 for each of the runners up. The Prize has established the RBC Taylor Prize Emerging Writer's Award, which provides $10,000 to an emerging author. The RBC Taylor Prize winner chooses the emerging author each new Prize cycle.
The Emerging Writer's award was established in 2013 to provide recognition and assistance to a Canadian published author who is working on a significant writing project, preferably but not limited to literary non-fiction. Through mentorship from the nominating author, and a $10,000 cash award, it is intended that the writer will be able to progress toward the creation of a first draft work.
The trustees of the Charles Taylor Foundation are: Michael Bradley (Toronto), Vijay Parmar (Toronto), David Staines (Ottawa), and Noreen Taylor (Toronto).
The presenting sponsor of the RBC Taylor Prize is RBC Wealth Management, its Major Sponsor is Metropia, its media sponsors are The Globe and Mail (exclusive newspaper sponsor), CNW Group, The Huffington Post Canada, Maclean's magazine, and Quill & Quire magazine; its in-kind sponsors are Authors at Harbourfront Centre, Ben McNally Books, Event Source, Kobo Inc., and The Omni King Edward Hotel.
To download high-resolution images of these titles please go to: www.rbctaylorprize.ca/2015/longlist_15.asp
For more information please visit: www.rbctaylorprize.ca.
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Editor's Note - A tweet from the Prize earlier today wrongly identified the publisher of Happy City and used the wrong middle initial in M. G. VASSANJI's name. Both errors have been corrected in this release
Image with caption: "Noreen Taylor and Vijay Parmar enjoy the 12 non-fiction titles that are on the 2015 RBC Taylor Prize Longlist. Standing in front of a table covered with the nominated books Ms. Taylor, the founder of the RBC Taylor Prize, looks at hard copy copies while Prize trustee and President, PH&N Investment Counsel, RBC Wealth Management, Vijay Parmar uses a new Kobo to read the same books electronically. (CNW Group/RBC Taylor Prize)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141210_C8603_PHOTO_EN_9316.jpg
Image with caption: "Ben McNally (l), the owner of Toronto's famed Ben McNally Bookstore, Noreen Taylor, the founder of the RBC Taylor Prize and Vijay Parmar (r), President, PH&N Investment Counsel, RBC Wealth Management, and a Prize trustee look at the dozen non-fiction books that have been named to the 2015 RBC Taylor Prize Longlist (CNW Group/RBC Taylor Prize)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141210_C8603_PHOTO_EN_9322.jpg
SOURCE: RBC Taylor Prize
Media contact: Stephen Weir & Associates, Stephen Weir: 416-489-5868, cell: 416-801-3101, [email protected]
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