Swansea, UK — Palestinian novelist Yasmin Zaher has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for young writers for her debut novel The Coin. Zaher received a £20,000 prize during a ceremony held in Swansea on Thursday evening.
The Dylan Thomas Prize, named after the iconic Swansea-born poet and writer who passed away at age 39, recognizes exceptional literary works by authors aged 39 and under. This year’s judging panel described The Coin as “borderless,” praising its poetic and nuanced exploration of trauma, grief, and resilience.
The Coin tells the story of a wealthy Palestinian woman struggling to thrive in America while her homeland exists only in memory. The judges commended Zaher’s writing for its complexity, intensity, and elegant conciseness, blending moments of quirkiness and humor with deep emotional themes.
Born in Jerusalem in 1991, Zaher’s debut novel stood out from a highly competitive shortlist of six finalists, which included:
- Rapture’s Road by Seán Hewitt (poetry collection, UK/Ireland)
- Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon (novel, Ireland)
- The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (novel, The Netherlands)
- I Will Crash by Rebecca Watson (novel, UK)
- Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good by Eley Williams (short story collection, UK)
Namita Gokhale, chair of the judging panel, noted, “Whittling our exceptional longlist of twelve down to six brilliant books, and then again to just one, was not an easy exercise — yet the panel was unanimous in naming Yasmin Zaher as the winner.”
The Dylan Thomas Prize continues to spotlight emerging literary talents, celebrating innovative voices from around the world.
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