Booker Prizewinner, Damon Galgut, will judge The Plaza Short Story Prize (5000 words max) in 2025

In 2021, Galgut won the prestigious Booker Prize for his novel The Promise, a multigenerational family saga that grapples with the legacy of apartheid, racial injustice, and broken promises. The novel was widely praised for its innovative structure and deft handling of South African history, making him a key voice in contemporary world literature.

Damon Galgut is a distinguished South African writer, known for his profound literary contributions that explore themes of identity, displacement, and the human condition. Born in Pretoria in 1963, Galgut showed an early affinity for storytelling, writing his first novel, A Sinless Season, at the age of 17. His work is often deeply personal, reflecting the complexities of South African society during and after apartheid.

Galgut’s breakthrough came with The Good Doctor (2003), a Booker Prize finalist, which delves into the moral ambiguities and tensions in post-apartheid South Africa. This novel solidified his reputation as a perceptive chronicler of his country’s fraught history. His sparse, evocative prose and psychological insight draw readers into intense, often unsettling narratives.

Galgut has written plays and short stories, and his work has been translated into multiple languages. His first collection of short stories is titled Small Circle of Beings, published in 1988. This collection includes the title novella as well as other short stories that explore themes of illness, familial bonds, and psychological tension, showcasing Galgut’s early talent for nuanced, introspective storytelling.

OPEN FOR ENTRIES NOW. The Plaza Short Story Prize (5000 words max). Judge: Damon Galgut. 1st Prize: £4000 ($5000). Deadline: 30th April 2025. .