26a

Winner of the Orange Award for New Writers

Diana Evans

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Paperback

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English

Vintage
01 March 2006

Fiction & Literature; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)

Diana Evans is the new literary voice of multicultural Britain. Her unforgettable first novel has all the heartbreak of Brick Lane and all the vibrancy of White Teeth, but a very special magic of its own.
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*WINNER OF THE ORANGE AWARD FOR NEW WRITERS
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'A remarkable first novel...vibrant...exotic' Sunday Times

Discover the critically acclaimed debut from the Women's Prize-shortlisted author of Ordinary People

Identical twins, Georgia and Bessi Hunter, live in the loft of 26 Waifer Avenue. It is a place of beanbags, nectarines and secrets, and visitors must always knock before entering. Down below there is not such harmony. Their Nigerian mother puts cayenne pepper on her Yorkshire pudding and has mysterious ways of dealing with homesickness; their father angrily roams the streets of London, prey to the demons of his Derbyshire upbringing.

Forced to create their own identities, the Hunter children build a separate universe. Their elder sister Bel discovers sex, high heels and organic hairdressing whilst the twins prepare for a flapjack empire. It is when the reality comes knocking that the fantasies of childhood start to give way. How will Georgia and Bessi cope in a world of separateness and solitude, and which of them will be stronger?

'Hugely assured and very moving' Mark Haddon

'Diana Evans's fiction is emotionally intelligent, dark, funny, moving. The sheer energy in her novels is enthralling. A brilliant craftswoman, a master of the form, she makes the reader ask important questions of themselves and makes them laugh at the same time' Jackie Kay, British Council and National Centre for Writing's International Showcase on Britain's 10 best BAME writers

Winner of the British Book Award for deciBel Writer of the Year

Shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award

Shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award

Shortlisted for the Commonwealth Best First Book Award

Shortlisted for the Times/Southbank Show Breakthrough Award

Recipient of the Betty Trask Award

Longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award

By: Diana Evans
Imprint: Vintage
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: New edition
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 170g
ISBN: 9780099479048
ISBN 10: 0099479044
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 01 March 2006
Recommended Age: From 0 years
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Diana Evans is a graduate of the University of East Anglia's Creative Writing MA and has published short fiction in a number of anthologies. She has worked as a journalist and arts critic for Marie Claire, the Evening Standard, The Source and Pride magazine, and writes regularly for the Independent and the Stage. She lives in West London.

Reviews for 26a: Winner of the Orange Award for New Writers

This sparky debut novel... Enthralling from the first page, this bittersweet fusion of fairytales and nightmares is sugared by nostalgia and salted with sadness, Hephzibah Anderson, Daily Mail * Hephzibah Anderson, Daily Mail * A dazzling debut...I adored this book; I defy anyone to read the final pages without tears in their eyes. Easily the best book of the year so far * Scotsman * The Great Neasden Novel has arrived...Haunting and cherishable...A hugely promising debut * Independent * A remarkable first novel...vibrant...exotic * Sunday Times * A hugely assured and very moving first novel -- Mark Haddon * Sunday Telegraph *