The BBC National Short Story Award is the largest award for a single short story in the world.
The author of the winning story receives £15,000. The runner-up receives £3,000, and £500 is awarded to each of the authors of the other three shortlisted stories.
The award is funded by the BBC and is administered in partnership with Booktrust and Scottish Book Trust.
2008 BBC National Short Story Award
Clare Wigfall has won the winner of this year’s BBC National Short Story Award, with Jane Gardam named as runner up.
Clare Wigfall received £15,000 – the largest award in the world for a single short story – for 'The Numbers' and Jane Gardam £3,000 for 'The People on Privilege Hill'.
The three remaining authors on the shortlist – Richard Beard, Erin Soros and Adam Thorpe – received £500.
Announcing the winners, Chair of the judges, broadcaster and writer Martha Kearney, said:
“It's exciting that a relatively unknown voice, in fact the youngest writer on our shortlist, has distinguished herself amongst some very well known authors as a leading talent in the world of storytelling.
'Clare’s evocation of superstition and frustrated lives on a remote Scottish island is an act of historical ventriloquism. She shows just what the short story can achieve, conjuring up a whole world through a microcosm.
'The strength of our shortlist ranging from the gothic to the comic demonstrates that the short story is alive and well, the perfect art form for a time hungry age.'
The shortlist was announced on 4 July 2008:
Richard Beard Guidelines for Measures to Cope with Disgraceful and Other Events
Jane Gardam The People on Privilege Hill
Erin Soros Surge
Adam Thorpe The Names
Clare Wigfall The Numbers
The winner will be announced on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Monday 14 July.
Each story will be broadcast at 3.30pm on BBC Radio 4 in the week commencing 7 July.
Find out more about the shortlisted stories and authors
The 2008 BBC National Short Story Award was launched at Broadcasting House on Tuesday 13 November 2007.
The judging panel comprises broadcaster Martha Kearney (Chair), writer Naomi Alderman, author of Disobedience; Alexander Linklater, one of the award’s founders (Prospect Magazine); Booker Prize winner Penelope Lively; and Di Speirs (BBC Radio 4).
