Carcanet poet Sinead Morrissey has been shortlisted for the 2005 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. This prestigious cross-genre award recognises and celebrates the best work of literature (fiction, non-fiction, poetry or drama) by a UK or Commonwealth writer aged 35 or under. The prize is awarded retrospectively and the winner will receive £5,000, with the other shortlisted authors receiving £500 each. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at City Inn, Westminster, London on 6 December.

Morrissey is the only poet on the shortlist. The other shortlisted titles are The Short Day Dying by Peter Hobbs (Faber and Faber), Tokyo Cancelled by Rana Dasgupta (Fourth Estate/ Harper Perennial), Newfoundland by Rebbecca Ray (Hamish Hamilton), Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala (John Murray) and Gem Squash Tokoloshe by Rachel Zadok (Pan Macmillan).
 
The prize has already won coverage in the Guardian. Visit www.booktrust.org.uk for more information.