The Folio Academy

The character and qualities of The Writers’ Prize are shaped by The Folio Academy, an international group of writers and critics who are immersed in the world of books. The Academy nominates titles to be considered for the Prize shortlist, and each year the judges are drawn from its number. In 2024, responsibility for both the shortlist nominations and the overall winners sits entirely with the Academy. Additionally, the mentors who lead each year’s Rathbones Folio Mentorships come from the Academy.

The Academy is a community where conversations about the value and direction of literature can take place. It is an evolving group which derives its strength from individual voices, yet it is stable in form. All Academy members demonstrate a commitment to writing and to reading that is ambitious in vision and scope.

ABC  DEF  GHI  JKL  MNO  PQR  STU  VWXYZ

Academy Members: ABC

Tim Adams

Tim Adams

Critic at the Observer

Author of Being John McEnroe (2004, Crown USA/Yellow Jersey UK). 

Victoria Adukwei Bulley

Victoria Adukwei Bulley

Poet, writer, artist. Debut collection Quiet (2022, Faber & Faber) won the Poetry Category of the Rathbones Folio Prize 2023.

Naomi Alderman

Naomi Alderman

Author of novels The Power (2017, Penguin) as well as Disobedience, The Lessons and The Liar’s Gospel. The Future coming November 2023 (Penguin).

Lisa Allardice

Lisa Allardice

Chief books writer at The Guardian

Tahmima Anam

Tahmima Anam

Author of novels The Startup Wife (2021, Canongate), The Bones of Grace (2016), The Good Muslim (2011), A Golden Age (2007).

Romalyn Ante

Romalyn Ante

Romalyn Ante

Raymond Antrobus

Raymond Antrobus

Raymond Antrobus

Lisa Appignanesi

Lisa Appignanesi

Chloe Aridjis

Chloe Aridjis

Claire Armitstead

Claire Armitstead

Romalyn Ante

Will Ashon

Will Ashon

Raymond Antrobus

Nadeem Aslam

Nadeem Aslam

William Arkins

William Atkins

Will Atkins

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

Tash Aw

Tash Aw

Romalyn Ante

Trezza Azzopardi

Trezza Azzopardi

Raymond Antrobus

Murray Bail

Murray Bail

William Arkins

Catherine Bailey

Catherine Bailey

Virginia Baily

Virginia Baily

John Banville

John Banville

Romalyn Ante

Pat Barker

Pat Barker

Raymond Antrobus

Raffaella Barker

Raffaella Barker

William Arkins

Susan Barker

Susan Barker

Damian Barr

Damian Barr

Kevin Barry

Kevin Barry

Sebastian Barry, credit: Alan Betson

Sebastian Barry

Sebastian Barry

Raymond Antrobus

Elif Batuman

Elif Batuman

William Arkins

Sara Baume

Sara Baume

Francesca Beard

Francesca Beard

Richard Beard

Richard Beard

Sebastian Barry, credit: Alan Betson

Fiona Benson

Fiona Benson

Emily Berry

Emily Berry

Emily Berry

William Arkins

David Bezmozgis

David Bezmozgis

Rahul Bhattacharya

Rahul Bhattacharya

Carol Birch

Carol Birch

Sebastian Barry, credit: Alan Betson

Caroline Bird

Caroline Bird

Emily Berry

Robin Black

Robin Black

William Arkins

Amy Bloom

Amy Bloom

Tracy Bohan

Tracy Bohan

James Bradley

James Bradley

Natasha Brown

Natasha Brown

Natasha Brown

Emily Berry

NoViolet Bulawayo

NoViolet Bulawayo

William Arkins

Anna Burns

Anna Burns

Will Burns

Will Burns

Will Burns

AS Byatt, d.16.11.23 RIP

AS Byatt, d.16.11.23 RIP

Natasha Brown

Peter Carey

Peter Carey

Emily Berry

Eleanor Catton

Eleanor Catton

Will Burns

Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon

William Arkins

Mary Jean Chan

Mary Jean Chan

Tracy Chevalier

Anthony Capildeo

Natasha Brown

Sarah Churchwell

Sarah Churchwell

Emily Berry

Kate Clanchy

Kate Clanchy

Will Burns

Alex Clark

Alex Clark

William Arkins

Joseph Coelho

Joseph Coelho

J.M. Coetzee

J.M. Coetzee

Natasha Brown

Teju Cole

Teju Cole

Emily Berry

Robert Collins

Robert Collins

Will Burns

Jon Cook

Jon Cook

William Arkins

Rachel Cooke

Rachel Cooke

Jim Crace

Jim Crace

Natasha Brown

Stephanie Cross

Stephanie Cross

Emily Berry

Laura Cumming

Laura Cumming

Will Burns

Michael Cunningham

Michael Cunningham

William Arkins

Rachel Cusk

Rachel Cusk

Academy Members: DEF

Natasha Brown

Willliam Dalrymple

Willliam Dalrymple

Emily Berry

Edwige Danticat

Edwige Danticat

Will Burns

Carys Davies

Carys Davies

William Arkins

Deborah Kay Davies

Deborah Kay Davies

Jill Dawson

Jill Dawson

Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson

Emily Berry

Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth Day

Will Burns

Michelle de Kretser

Michelle de Kretser

William Arkins

Sergio de la Pava

Sergio de la Pava

Jonathan Derbyshire

Jonathan Derbyshire

Kit de Waal

Kit de Waal

Kit de Waal

Emily Berry

Junot Diaz

Junot Diaz

Will Burns

Edward Docx

Edward Docx

William Arkins

Emma Donoghue

Emma Donoghue

Maura Dooley

Maura Dooley

Kit de Waal

Louise Doughty

Louise Doughty

Emily Berry

Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy

Will Burns

Sasha Dugdale

Sasha Dugdale

William Arkins

Sarah Dunant

Sarah Dunant

Joe Dunthorne

Joe Dunthorne

Kit de Waal

Geoff Dyer

Geoff Dyer

Emily Berry

Bret Easton Ellis

Bret Easton Ellis

Will Burns

William Eaves

William Eaves

William Arkins

Esi Edugyan

Esi Edugyan

Nathan Englander

Nathan Englander

Kit de Waal

Diana Evans

Diana Evans

Emily Berry

Bernardine Evaristo

Bernardine Evaristo

Will Burns

Stuart Evers

Stuart Evers

William Arkins

Paul Farley

Paul Farley

Roopa Farooki

Roopa Farooki

Kit de Waal

Sebastian Faulks

Sebastian Faulks

Emily Berry

Suzy Feay

Suzy Feay

Will Burns

Elaine Feeney

Elaine Feeney

William Arkins

Caleb Femi

Caleb Femi

William Fiennes

William Fiennes

Kit de Waal

Amanda Foreman

Amanda Foreman

Emily Berry

Aminatta Forna

Aminatta Forna

Will Burns

Adam Foulds

Adam Foulds

James Fox

James Fox

James Fox

Richard Francis

Richard Francis

Kit de Waal

Caroline Fraser

Caroline Fraser

Maureen Freely

Maureen Freely

Maureen Freely

Will Burns

John Freeman

John Freeman

James Fox

Nell Freudenberger

Nell Freudenberger

Anna Funder

Anna Funder

Academy Members: GHI

Kit de Waal

Amity Gaige

Amity Gaige

Maureen Freely

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman

Will Burns

Rivka Galchen

Rivka Galchen

James Fox

Patrick Gale

Patrick Gale

Damon Galgut

Damon Galgut

Kit de Waal

Petina Gappah

Petina Gappah

Vanessa Gebbie

Vanessa Gebbie

Vanessa Gebbie

Will Burns

Keith Gessen

Keith Gessen

James Fox

Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh

Sinéad Gleeson

Sinéad Gleeson

Kit de Waal

Namita Gokhale

Namita Gokhale

Vanessa Gebbie

Vesna Goldsowrthy

Vesna Goldsowrthy

Will Burns

Helen Gordon

Helen Gordon

James Fox

Lavinia Greenlaw

Lavinia Greenlaw

Katy Guest

Katy Guest

Guy Gunaratne

Guy Gunaratne

Guy Gunaratne

Vanessa Gebbie

Amali Gunasekera

Amali Gunasekera

Will Burns

Xiaolu Guo

Xiaolu Guo

James Fox

Helon Habila

Helon Habila

Mark Haddon

Mark Haddon

Guy Gunaratne

Tessa Hadley

Tessa Hadley

Vanessa Gebbie

Rawi Hage

Rawi Hage

Will Burns

Matt Haig

Matt Haig

James Fox

Sarah Hall

Sarah Hall

Mohsin Hamid

Mohsin Hamid

Guy Gunaratne

Mohammed Hanif

Mohammed Hanif

Vanessa Gebbie

Sophie Hannah

Sophie Hannah

Will Burns

Luke Harding

Luke Harding

James Fox

Paul Harding

Paul Harding

Jane Harris

Jane Harris

Guy Gunaratne

Will Harris

Will Harris

Vanessa Gebbie

Samantha Harvey

Samantha Harvey

Will Burns

Justin Haythe

Justin Haythe

James Fox

Zoe Heller

Zoe Heller

Aleksandar Hemon

Aleksandar Hemon

Guy Gunaratne

Philip Hensher

Philip Hensher

Vanessa Gebbie

Sheila Heti

Sheila Heti

Will Burns

Kathryn Heyman

Kathryn Heyman

James Fox

Daisy Hildyard

Daisy Hildyard

Selima Hill

Selima Hill

Selima Hill

Guy Gunaratne

Afua Hirsch

Afua Hirsch

Vanessa Gebbie

Peter Hobbs

Peter Hobbs

Will Burns

Andrew Holgate

Andrew Holgate

James Fox

Rachel Holmes

Rachel Holmes

Selima Hill

A.M. Homes

A.M. Homes

Guy Gunaratne

Chloe Hooper

Chloe Hooper

Vanessa Gebbie

Kathryn Hughes

Kathryn Hughes

Will Burns

Lucy Hughes-Hallett

Lucy Hughes-Hallett

James Fox

MJ Hyland

MJ Hyland

Selima Hill

Lars Iyer

Lars Iyer

Academy Members: JKL

Vanessa Gebbie

Maya Jaggi

Maya Jaggi

Vanessa Gebbie

Hope Jahren

Hope Jahren

Will Burns

Nadine Aisha Jassat

Nadine Aisha Jassat

James Fox

Margo Jefferson

Margo Jefferson

James Fox

Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson

Suzanne Joinson

Suzanne Joinson

Suzanne Joinson

Vanessa Gebbie

Alice Jolly

Alice Jolly

Vanessa Gebbie

Justine Jordan

Justine Jordan

Jackie Kay

Jackie Kay

Jackie Kay

Fergal Keane

Fergal Keane

Fergal Keane

Suzanne Joinson

Stuart Kelly

Stuart Kelly

Vanessa Gebbie

Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp

Vanessa Gebbie

A.L Kennedy

JA.L Kennedy

Jackie Kay

Christobel Kent

Christobel Kent

Fergal Keane

Hannah Kent

Hannah Kent

Mimi Khalvati

Mimi Khalvati

Mimi Khalvati

Vanessa Gebbie

Matthew Kneale

Matthew Kneale

Vanessa Gebbie

India Knight

India Knight

Jackie Kay

Nicole Krauss

Nicole Krauss

Fergal Keane

Hari Kunzru

Hari Kunzru

Mimi Khalvati

Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner

Vanessa Gebbie

Theophilus Kwek

Theophilus Kwek

Vanessa Gebbie

Nick Laird

Nick Laird

Nikita Lalwani

Nikita Lalwani

Nikita Lalwani

Fergal Keane

James Lasdun

James Lasdun

Mimi Khalvati

Tabitha Lasley

Tabitha Lasley

Vanessa Gebbie

Mark Lawson

Mark Lawson

Vanessa Gebbie

Nam Le

Nam Le

Nikita Lalwani

Chang Rae Lee

Chang Rae Lee

Fergal Keane

Sam Leith

Sam Leith

Mimi Khalvati

Ben Lerner

Ben Lerner

Vanessa Gebbie

Penelope Lively

Penelope Lively

Vanessa Gebbie

Attica Locke

Attica Locke

Nikita Lalwani

Rachel Long

Rachel Long

Fergal Keane

Valeria Luiselli

Valeria Luiselli

Mimi Khalvati

Carola Luther

Carola Luther

Academy Members: MNO

Vanessa Gebbie

Robert Macfarlane

Robert Macfarlane

Vanessa Gebbie

Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado

Nikita Lalwani

Ben MacIntyre

Ben MacIntyre

Fergal Keane

Deirdre Madden

Deirdre Madden

Mimi Khalvati

Rebecca Makkai

Rebecca Makkai

Vanessa Gebbie

Kathryn Maris

Kathryn Maris

Vanessa Gebbie

Andrew Marr

Andrew Marr

Nikita Lalwani

Philip Marsden

Philip Marsden

Fergal Keane

Hisham Matar

Hisham Matar

Mimi Khalvati

Glyn Maxwell

Glyn Maxwell

Vanessa Gebbie

Eimear McBride

Eimear McBride

Vanessa Gebbie

Robert McCrum

Robert McCrum

Nikita Lalwani

Val McDermid

Val McDermid

Fergal Keane

Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan

Mimi Khalvati

Jon McGregor

Jon McGregor

Vanessa Gebbie

Belinda McKeon

Belinda McKeon

Vanessa Gebbie

Jean McNeil

Jean McNeil

Nikita Lalwani

Tessa McWatt

Tessa McWatt

Fergal Keane

James Meek

James Meek

Mimi Khalvati

Momtaza Mehri

Momtaza Mehri

Vanessa Gebbie

Daniel Mendelsohn

Daniel Mendelsohn

Vanessa Gebbie

Charlotte Mendelson

Charlotte Mendelson

Nikita Lalwani

Stephanie Merrit

Stephanie Merrit

Fergal Keane

Claire Messud

Claire Messud

Mimi Khalvati

Philipp Meyer

Philipp Meyer

Vanessa Gebbie

Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller

Vanessa Gebbie

Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Nikita Lalwani

Pankaj Mishra

Pankaj Mishra

Fergal Keane

David Mitchell

David Mitchell

Mimi Khalvati

China Miéville

China Miéville

Vanessa Gebbie

Azadeh Moaveni

Azadeh Moaveni

Vanessa Gebbie

C E Morgan

C E Morgan

Nikita Lalwani

Clare Morgan

Clare Morgan

Fergal Keane

Blake Morrison

Blake Morrison

Mimi Khalvati

Julie Myerson

Julie Myerson

Katrina Naomi

Katrina Naomi

Katrina Naomi

Vanessa Gebbie

Caleb Azumah Nelson

Caleb Azumah Nelson

Nikita Lalwani

Lawrence Norfolk

Lawrence Norfolk

Fergal Keane

Doireann Ní Ghríofa

Doireann Ní Ghríofa

Mimi Khalvati

Maggie O'Farrell

Maggie O'Farrell

Katrina Naomi

Catherine O'Flynn

Catherine O'Flynn

Vanessa Gebbie

Andrew O'Hagan

Andrew O'Hagan

Nikita Lalwani

Lisa O'Kelly

Lisa O'Kelly

Fergal Keane

Michael Ondaatje

Michael Ondaatje

Mimi Khalvati

Tommy Orange

Tommy Orange

Katrina Naomi

Helen Oyeyemi

Helen Oyeyemi

Academy Members: PQR

Katrina Naomi

Richard Lloyd Parry

Richard Lloyd Parry

Vanessa Gebbie

Don Paterson

Don Paterson

Nikita Lalwani

Laline Paull

Laline Paull

Fergal Keane

Emily Perkins

Emily Perkins

Mimi Khalvati

Elliot Perlman

Elliot Perlman

Katrina Naomi

Caryl Phillips

Caryl Phillips

Vanessa Gebbie

Jayne Anne Phillips

Jayne Anne Phillips

Nikita Lalwani

Justine Picardie

Justine Picardie

Fergal Keane

Paul Pickering

Paul Pickering

Mimi Khalvati

Bella Pollen

Bella Pollen

Katrina Naomi

Jacob Polley

Jacob Polley

Vanessa Gebbie

Susannah Porter

Susannah Porter

Chris Power

Chris Power

Chris Power

Fergal Keane

Richard Powers

Richard Powers

Mimi Khalvati

John Preston

John Preston

Katrina Naomi

Michael Prodger

Michael Prodger

Vanessa Gebbie

Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman

Chris Power

Tony Quinn

Tony Quinn

Fergal Keane

Ross Raisin

Ross Raisin

Mimi Khalvati

Shobha Rani

Shobha Rani

Katrina Naomi

Ian Rankin

Ian Rankin

Vanessa Gebbie

Michele Roberts

Michele Roberts

Roger Robinson

Roger Robinson

Roger Robinson

Fergal Keane

Monique Roffey

Monique Roffey

Mimi Khalvati

Jon Ronson

Jon Ronson

Katherine Rundell

Katherine Rundell

Katherine Rundell

Vanessa Gebbie

Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie

Roger Robinson

Donal Ryan

Donal Ryan

Academy Members: STU

Fergal Keane

Sunjeev Sahota

Sunjeev Sahota

Vanessa Gebbie

Sathnam Sanghera

Sathnam Sanghera

Jacqueline Saphra

Jacqueline Saphra

Jacqueline Saphra

Katherine Rundell

Denise Saul

Denise Saul

Mimi Khalvati

George Saunders

George Saunders

Fergal Keane

James Scudamore

James Scudamore

Vanessa Gebbie

Ruth Scurr

Ruth Scurr

Jacqueline Saphra

Alice Sebold

Alice Sebold

Katherine Rundell

Maria Semple

Maria Semple

Mimi Khalvati

Anita Sethi

Anita Sethi

Fergal Keane

David Sexton

David Sexton

Vanessa Gebbie

Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak

Jacqueline Saphra

Kamila Shamsie

Kamila Shamsie

Katherine Rundell

Clare Shaw

Clare Shaw

Mimi Khalvati

Owen Sheers

Owen Sheers

Fergal Keane

Lionel Shriver

Lionel Shriver

Vanessa Gebbie

Nikesh Shukla

Nikesh Shukla

Jacqueline Saphra

Curtis Sittenfeld

Curtis Sittenfeld

Katherine Rundell

Johanna Skibsrud

Johanna Skibsrud

Mimi Khalvati

Gillian Slovo

Gillian Slovo

Ali Smith

Ali Smith

Ali Smith

Vanessa Gebbie

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith

Jacqueline Saphra

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith

Katherine Rundell

Yomi Sode

Yomi Sode

Mimi Khalvati

Ahdaf Soueif

Ahdaf Soueif

Ali Smith

Martha Sprackland

Martha Sprackland

Vanessa Gebbie

Francis Spufford

Francis Spufford

Guy Stagg

Guy Stagg

Guy Stagg

Katherine Rundell

Peter Stanford

Peter Stanford

Mimi Khalvati

Lorin Stein

Lorin Stein

Francine Stock

Francine Stock

Francine Stock

Vanessa Gebbie

Tom Stoppard

Tom Stoppard

Guy Stagg

Kate Summerscale

Kate Summerscale

William Sutcliffe

William Sutcliffe

William Sutcliffe

Mimi Khalvati

Henry Sutton

Henry Sutton

Francine Stock

Miguel Syjuco

Miguel Syjuco

Vanessa Gebbie

Michael Symmons Roberts

Michael Symmons Roberts

Guy Stagg

Christopher Tayler

Christopher Tayler

William Sutcliffe

Catherine Taylor

Catherine Taylor

Mimi Khalvati

D.J. Taylor

D.J. Taylor

Mimi Khalvati

Joelle Taylor

Joelle Taylor

Francine Stock

Sharlene Teo

Sharlene Teo

Vanessa Gebbie

Adam Thirlwell

Adam Thirlwell

Guy Stagg

Rupert Thomson

Rupert Thomson

William Sutcliffe

Matt Thorne

Matt Thorne

Mimi Khalvati

Adam Thorpe

Adam Thorpe

Francine Stock

Carrie Tiffany

Carrie Tiffany

Vanessa Gebbie

Colm Toibin

Colm Toibin

Guy Stagg

Boyd Tonkin

Boyd Tonkin

William Sutcliffe

Deborah Treisman

Deborah Treisman

Mimi Khalvati

Joanna Trollope

Joanna Trollope

Francine Stock

Scott Turow

Scott Turow

Vanessa Gebbie

Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler

Academy Members: VWXYZ

Francine Stock

David Vann

David Vann

Vanessa Gebbie

Salley Vickers

Salley Vickers

Guy Stagg

Ivan Vladislavic

Ivan Vladislavic

William Sutcliffe

Erica Wagner

Erica Wagner

Mimi Khalvati

Jess Walter

Jess Walter

Francine Stock

James Walton

James Walton

Vanessa Gebbie

Alan Warner

Alan Warner

Guy Stagg

Marina Warner

Marina Warner

William Sutcliffe

Frances Wilson

Frances Wilson

Mimi Khalvati

Jeanette Winterson

Jeanette Winterson

Francine Stock

Gaby Wood

Gaby Wood

Vanessa Gebbie

Gerard Woodward

Gerard Woodward

Guy Stagg

Evie Wyld

Evie Wyld

William Sutcliffe

Ashleigh Young

Ashleigh Young