WHAT THE RIVER WASHED AWAY makes it to Waverton Shortlist

Muriel Macleod’s WHAT THE RIVER WASHED AWAY has been chosen as one of a shortlist of five books for the Waverton Good Read award 2013-14. Other writers on the shortlist include Nathan Filer and Graeme Simsion.

Every year the residents of Waverton make an award to the best British debut novel published in the previous 12 months. More than 90 novels were submitted for this year’s prize. Previous winners of the prize include Mark Haddon, Marina Lewycka and Rachel Joyce.

WHAT THE RIVER WASHED AWAY was published by Oneworld in June 2013, and tells the story of a poor black girl abused by white men in early 20th century Louisiana, who takes her revenge.

The winner of the £1000 prize is voted for and announced in July.

Praise for WHAT THE RIVER WASHED AWAY:

“Seeing Arletta and her mother come together as two adults, and the friendship and love that emerges as a result, is moving to witness...There is much to appreciate in this novel” - Laura Farmer, The Gazette