Named after author George Orwell, the Orwell Prize is one of the most prestigious prizes for political writing in the United Kingdom which is awarded annually. The Orwell Foundation launched a new category in November 2018 for the award namely, Orwell Prize for Political Fiction which is sponsored by Richard Blair and A. M. Heath and will be given for the first time in June 2019.

It will we awarded to 'outstanding novels and collections of short stories first published in the UK that illuminate major social and political themes, present or past, through the art of narrative' reads a statement on the official website. Twelve books longlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction were announced recently, which are selected by judges -- Dr Xine Yao, Preti Taneja, Sam Leith and Tom Sutcliffe.

The Ice Migration by Jacqueline Crooks

The stories in Jacqueline Crooks' collection 'The Ice Migration' are set in different time and place but they are linked together by the common experiences of the descendants of a Jamaican family, who are of mixed Indian and African lineage. 'What they discover beyond the strangeness of change of place and the hostilities they encounter is that life remains defined by its common crises of birth, the complications of sexuality, sickness, old age, and death and the comforts of food, stories and memory,' reads the book's blurb.

Silence Is My Mother Tongue by Sulaiman Addonia

Sulaiman Addonia's 'Silence Is My Mother Tongue' is the story of young girl Saba whose life changes when she and her family is forced to live in an East African refugee camp for survival. Saba is forced to leave her school, books and friends behind and she now has to carve a space for herself in a hostile community. Meanwhile, she is also quite protective of her mute brother, Hagos, and both the siblings struggle to resist the gender roles assigned to them by society. 'Sulaiman Addonia questions what it means to be a man, to be a woman, to be an individual when circumstance has forced the loss of all that makes a home or a future,' reads the book's blurb.

Sabrina by Nick Drnaso

Nick Drnaso's graphic novel 'Sabrina' was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018. The story highlights the dangers of the fake-news climate in modern times. When a woman named Sabrina is found murdered, it spawns various conspiracy theories for it; the story examines the impact of these false accusations on the lives of the victim's close family and friends. The graphic novel will be made into a movie by Drew Goddard who will write, produce, and maybe direct it too.

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas

Set in a small Oregon fishing town, this fictional story revolves around five women who question the topics of motherhood, identity, and freedom. The story is set during a time when abortion and in-vitro fertilization are again banned in America and women have fewer choices, freedom and rights in their personal lives.

Perfidious Albion by Sam Byers

Sam Byers' second novel 'Perfidious Albion' is set in a dystopian world of Edmundsbur when Brexit has happened. The right-wing political party is spreading hatred and residents of a failing housing estate are forced to leave their homes. 'Jess Ellis's research into internet misogyny pushes her relationship with her over-exposed opinion columnist boyfriend Robert Townsend to a breaking point. Robert's championing of the inhabitants of the threatened estate begins to erode the edges of his fragile idealism. Local politician Hugo Bennington finds his twisted loyalties catching up with him. At the nearby tech park, behind the utopian rhetoric, Trina James finds that something is dangerously amiss,' reads the book's blurb. The future has arrived in Edmundsbur and it is quite an unexpected one.

Ordinary People by Diana Evans

Diana Evans' book 'Ordinary People' is set in 2008 South London, during the of Barack Obama's historic presidential elections. The book tells the stories of regular people going through the ups and downs in their lives. The stories perfectly capture life during that time and explore topics like parenthood, love, loss, friendship and the idea of growing old.

Milkman by Anna Burns

Anna Burns won the 2018 Man Booker Prize for her novel 'Milkman'. Set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland, it's the story of an 18-year-old girl who is harassed by a much older married man called the "milkman". Their illicit affair in an unnamed small town brings out the small mindset of such places and highlights how gossip can be damning and inaction deadly. 'Milkman' by Anna Burns is also shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019.

Ironopolis by Glen James Brown

Glen James Brown's debut novel 'Ironopolis' is a story about the working class communities and their struggles. It is structured as a collection of stories which are inter-related and told through three generations; the stories narrate the events in the lives of the residents of a Middlesbrough housing estate. While they depict the working class life, the stories have compassion running at the core of them.

In Our Mad And Furious City by Guy Gunaratne

Guy Gunaratne's debut book 'In Our Mad and Furious City' won the 2019 Jhalak Prize, which is given to books by people of colour in the UK. The book is about three friends-- Selvon, Ardan and Yusuf-- who grew up in London. However, their lives change as the city is gripped with tension and violence after the killing of a British soldier. Though Selvon and Ardan remain fairly unaffected, Yusuf has to deal with tension in his community. The book was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018.

House Of Stone by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

Novuyo Rosa Tshuma's debut novel 'House Of Stone' follows Zamani, a 20-something lodger. The story is set in 2007 Zimbabwe, during Robert Mugabe’s brutal government. Zamani tries to be a part of his landlord Abednego and Agnes' family after their son, Bukhosi, is lost in an anti-Mugabe political rally; Bukhosi was with Zamani at that time. Soon Zamani starts calling Abednego and Agnes his surrogate parents and gets to know their dark secrets. The book was also shortlisted for the 2019 Dylan Thomas Prize.

Brother by David Chariandy

David Chariandy's novel 'builds a quietly devastating story about the love between a mother and her sons, the impact of race, masculinity and the senseless loss of young lives,' reads the book's blurb. The story revolves around Michael and Francis who are the sons of Trinidadian immigrants. While Francis dreams of becoming a musician one day, Michael dreams of Aisha- who is one of the smartest girls in their school. But all it takes is the violence of just one summer night in 1991 to change their lives forever.

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Tayari Jones' novel 'An American Marriage' follows an African-American family which is torn apart after the husband is wrongfully accused and imprisoned on the charges of murder for 12 years. Published in 2018, the book was selected by Oprah's book club and also got recommended by Barack Obama, apart from other positive reviews.