Fry to judge Dundee literary competition

STEPHEN Fry and Philip Pullman are to judge this year’s Dundee International Book Prize, which offers the biggest cash prize for any unpublished work in the country.

They will be joined by Scottish novelist Alan Bissett and literary agent Jenny Brown in what is effectively a bid to breathe new life into the prize, which was founded in 2000 but has yet to produce an internationally successful winner.

The competition – which also includes a publishing deal with Cargo Publishing – is a joint venture between the city council and Dundee University’s Literary Dundee project.

“It is fantastic that we have such an accomplished panel on board,” Literary Dundee director Anna Day said yesterday. “You’d be hard pressed to find a set of judges with as much experience amd expertise to call on deciding the winner of any book prize.” Will Dawson, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “The judging panel for this year’s event is world class and is recognition of how well known and highly regarded the competition has become. This is an exciting year for the Dundee Book Prize and I believe it will prove to be one of the most challenging for both entrants and judges.”