On the 31st of October, the 2024 Sunday Times Literary Awards, a prestigious event celebrating South African literary talent, announced its winners.

These awards were established to recognize outstanding contributions in fiction and nonfiction and bring attention to remarkable stories that highlight diverse themes and profound insights into social, cultural, and historical contexts. Two books were awarded the 2024 Sunday Times Literary Awards winners for their prolific and important stories. 

Winners of the 2024 Sunday Times Literary Awards

In the fiction category, Andrew Brown’s The Bitterness of Olives was awarded top honors. 

The judges describe it as:

[a] harrowing account of a moment of strife, beautifully told. The author, endowed with vivid imagination coupled with acumen and erudition, deftly immerses the reader in a brutal and bewildering landscape. A wholly sublime narrative, this novel is contemporaneous, daring, complex and aesthetically pleasing.

 

Read: How to Write a Story with Great Characters. 

 

For nonfiction, Jonny Steinberg’s Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage took the prize. Steinberg’s biography examines the intricate personal and political lives of Winnie and Nelson Mandela, providing an intimate portrayal that sheds new light on their dynamic relationship and lasting influence. 

“Telling the tale of a statesman as storied as Nelson Mandela is difficult, combining it with the story of another icon in his wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, is remarkably ambitious and fraught with peril. Steinberg does it with skill, courage and sensitivity,” the judges said.

Both winning books highlight critical aspects of identity and history. Brown’s novel illuminates the struggles set against the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the same time, Steinberg’s book is a timely exploration of personal sacrifice, political tension, and legacy. Together, these works underscore literature’s role in reflecting society’s evolution and challenges.

The awards serve as a reminder of South Africa’s vibrant literary landscape. It also encourages voices that foster understanding and change.

Congratulations to the winners. 

 

Also Read: Ways You Can Be a Productive Writer.