Jesmyn Ward, Kamila Shamsie shortlisted for 2018 Women's Prize

Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing and Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire are among the books shortlisted for the 2018 Women's Prize, a £30,000 (approx. $54,054.00 Cdn) award.

• The politics and perseverance of MacArthur winner Jesmyn Ward
• Kamila Shamsie explores what happens when family members join ISIS

Previously known as the Baileys Prize and the Orange Prize, the Women's Prize is an annual award given to the best work of fiction from around the world written by a woman.

The shortlist also includes:

• The Idiot by Elif Batuman
• The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
• Sight by Jessie Greengrass
• When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writers as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy

"The shortlist was chosen without fear or favour. We lost some big names, with regret, but narrowed down the list to the books which spoke most directly and truthfully to the judges," said Sarah Sands, Chair of Judges.

"The themes of the shortlist have both contemporary and lasting resonance encompassing the birth of the internet, race, sexual violence, grief, oh and mermaids. Some of the authors are young, half by Brits and all are blazingly good and brave writers."

• Elif Batuman on her love affair with Russian literature

The winner will be announced on June 6, 2018 in London.