Samantha Harvey Wins 2024 Booker Prize

Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel 'Orbital', making her the first woman to receive the award since 2019. The book, set onboard the International Space Station, follows six astronauts over 24 hours and has been praised for its beautiful and imaginative prose. 'Orbital' is noted for being the best-selling book on the shortlist, having sold 29,000 copies this year alone, and is the second-shortest book to ever win the prize. Harvey described her work as a 'space pastoral', aiming to evoke the beauty and joy of observing Earth from space. The judges highlighted its lyrical language and depth, indicating that it invites slow reading and multiple interpretations. Harvey dedicated her award to those advocating for peace and environmental consciousness, emphasizing her novel's reflective exploration of humanity's relationship with the planet.