2012 Winner
Tamas Dobozy
Siege 13
Thomas Allen Publishers
Jury Citation
"From the dark cityscapes of besieged Hungary to the émigré cafés of contemporary North America, Siege 13 spans continents and decades, and in doing so illustrates once again that old maxim: the short story can be both as broad and as deep as a novel. At times gently humorous, at times quietly wise, Dobozy’s thirteen stories dazzle with their psychological nuance and brilliant attention to detail. These stories are never less than breathtaking."
About the Book
Thirteen linked stories surround the siege of Budapest, recounting one of the fiercest and longest battles of the Second World War. The collection documents episodes of awful carnage showing how Hungarians endured the horror of that 46-day conflict and how the haunting trauma shadows over the lives’ of survivors. Like the tale of Heléna, a Hungarian-Canadian immigrant who diplomatically tries to mend the relationship between László and Jenő, members of her family whose true identities were confused and transformed by the siege. A terrible time in human history, the ripple effects of the siege transcend generations raising emotional questions in these stories about war, family, loyalty, redemption, and a legacy of silence.
About the Author
Tamas Dobozy was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and is currently an associate professor in the Department of English and Film Studies at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. His short story “The Restoration of the Villa Where Tibor Kalman Once Lived” won The O. Henry Award in 2011 and appears in this collection.
Finalists
Click on the covers below to learn more information about the four prize finalists:
Tim Bowling | The Tinsmith
Published by Brindle & Glass Publishing
Rawi Hage | Carnival
Published by House of Anansi Press
Alix Ohlin | Inside
Published by House of Anansi Press
Linda Spalding | The Purchase
Published by McClelland & Stewart
Finalists were selected by a three-member jury composed of authors Lynn Coady, Esi Edugyan, and Drew Hayden Taylor.
About the Prize
The Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize recognizes Canadian writers of exceptional talent for the year's best novel or short-story collection. The winner, selected by a three-member, independent judging panel, is announced at the Writers’ Trust Awards event.
About the Sponsor
Rogers Communications is a leading provider of Wireless, Cable TV, High Speed Internet and Home Phone services to consumer residences and businesses in Canada. They have generously sponsored this award since it was created in 1997.