Chimamanda Adichie’s novel voted best book in history of Women’s Prize for Fiction

By Rose Oladele

Chimamanda Adichie’s novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, which was published in 2006 has been voted the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in the 25-year history of the award.

The Nigerian-born author, who won the prize in 2007, was chosen in a public vote from a list of all 25 past winners.

Other past winners include Zadie Smith; the late Andrea Levy; Lionel Shriver; Rose Tremain and Maggie O’Farrell.

Half of a Yellow Sun is a story about the Biafran war, exploring the end of colonialism, ethnic allegiances, class, race and female empowerment.

Reacting to the announcement, Adichie said: “I’m especially moved to be voted Winner of Winners’ because this is the prize that first brought a wide readership to my work and has also introduced me to the work of many talented writers.”

Adichie received a silver edition of the prize’s annual statuette, known as the Bessie.

Kate Mosse, Author and playwright, who also doubles as the founder and director of the UK-based prize congratulated Adichie and said she was trilled Half of a Yellow Sun won.

“Our aim has always been to promote and celebrate the classics of tomorrow today and to build a library of exceptional, diverse, outstanding international fiction written by women.

“The Reading Women campaign has been the perfect way to introduce a new generation of readers to the brilliance of all of our 25 winners and to honour the phenomenal quality and range of women’s writing from all over the world,”Mosse said.

More than 8,500 people voted, and were invited to share their thoughts with the prize’s digital book club.