Caine Prize for African Writing
1 appearances
-
Edition 7 (2006) Winner
Mary Watson
メアリー・ワトソン
Mary Watson
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1975-05-31 （Cape Town, South Africa）
- Nationality
- South Africa
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Cape Town (birth – ) → Galway, Ireland (since 2009)
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Short story writer, Lecturer
- Active Years
- 2004-
- Affiliations
- University of Cape Town (lecturer, 2004–2008)
- Influenced By
- André Brink
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cape Town | — | Creative Writing (MA) | MA | — | South Africa |
| University of Bristol | — | Master's programme | MA | 2002–2003 | United Kingdom |
| University of Cape Town | — | PhD programme | PhD | — | South Africa |
University of Cape Town
Creative Writing (MA)
Degree:
MA
Country:
South Africa
Studied creative writing under André Brink
University of Bristol
Master's programme
Degree:
MA
Period:
2002–2003
Year of Graduation:
2003
Country:
United Kingdom
University of Cape Town
PhD programme
Degree:
PhD
Country:
South Africa
Completed a PhD after returning to Cape Town
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Caine Prize for African Writing | "Jungfrau" | — | The Caine Prize organization | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Africa39 (Hay Festival selection) | — | — | Hay Festival | 選出 |
| 2012 | Rolex Protegé and Mentorship Programme | — | — | Rolex | ファイナリスト |
Caine Prize for African Writing
2006
Work:
"Jungfrau"
Organization:
The Caine Prize organization
Result:
受賞
Africa39 (Hay Festival selection)
2014
Organization:
Hay Festival
Result:
選出
Rolex Protegé and Mentorship Programme
2012
Organization:
Rolex
Result:
ファイナリスト
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Moss
2004 Short story collectionA debut collection of short stories exploring memory, relationships and landscapes in South African settings.
MemoryHuman relationshipsLandscape
The Cutting Room
2013 Novel (elements of mystery)A novel that weaves mystery and past secrets, examining characters through layered memories and testimonies.
Truth and memoryViolenceIdentity
The Wren Hunt
2018 Young adult / FantasyA fantasy novel drawing on folklore and coming-of-age themes, featuring rituals and uncanny elements.
FolkloreComing of ageRitual and the uncanny
The Wickerlight
2019 Young adult / FantasyA follow-up in tone to The Wren Hunt, exploring nature, fear, and community norms.
CommunityNature and fearFemininity
Blood to Poison
2022 NovelA recent novel with darker elements dealing with kinship, betrayal and transformation.
KinshipBetrayalTransformation
Bibliography
- Moss (2004)
- The Cutting Room (2013)
- The Wren Hunt (2018)
- The Wickerlight (2019)
- Blood to Poison (2022)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Lyrical, atmospheric proseCombination of psychological realism and symbolic imagery
- Recurring Motifs
- Memory and the pastCoastal and urban landscapesFemale experience
Legacy
Mary Watson is a South African writer acclaimed for both short stories and novels. Her Caine Prize win and inclusion in Africa39 mark her as a significant voice in contemporary African literature.
Trivia
- Won the Caine Prize in 2006 for the short story "Jungfrau."
- Selected as one of the 39 writers in Africa39 in 2014.
- Has lived in Galway, Ireland since 2009.
- Debuted with the short story collection Moss in 2004.