Maria Reva Wins £10,000 Gordon Burn Prize for Exceptional Writing

The prestigious Gordon Burn Prize, celebrating exceptional writing, was awarded to Maria Reva on March 14, 2024, during a ceremony at Northern Stage in Newcastle. Reva received the prize for her novel Endling, published by Virago, which comes with a monetary award of £10,000 and a residency at Gordon Burn’s cottage in Berwickshire.

The Gordon Burn Prize is known for recognizing literary works that challenge conventional perspectives and styles. This year’s shortlist featured a diverse array of authors, including Omar El Akkad, Sarah Hall, Elizabeth Lovatt, Anthony Shapland, and Morgan Talty. Chair judge Val McDermid, a bestselling crime author, noted the high quality of this year’s submissions, stating, “It was an absolute privilege to judge. Any of the authors on the shortlist were worthy winners.”

Reva’s novel, Endling, set against the backdrop of Ukraine in 2022, tells the story of three women navigating personal and societal challenges amid the chaos of war. The protagonist, Yera, is a maverick scientist attempting to breed rare snails while also exploring relationships with Western men seeking romance tours in Ukraine. Her journey intertwines with those of her sister Nastia and their missing mother, who had been an activist against these tours. As the war unfolds, the narrative evolves into a quest that is both personal and deeply connected to larger societal issues.

Reflecting on the novel’s themes, Reva explained, “Endling doesn’t have a traditional ending, because it’s about a war that hasn’t ended.” The inspiration for her work is intensely personal, as Reva shared that her grandfather remains in a besieged city in Ukraine, where he narrowly escaped a recent artillery strike.

Reva has previously received accolades for her writing, including the National Magazine Award in 2019 and a finalist position for the Writer’s Trust of Canada 2020 Fiction Prize. Born in Ukraine and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, she holds an MFA from the Michener Centre for Writers at the University of Texas. Notably, in November 2022, she found herself listed on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s sanctions list, prohibiting her entry into Russia.

During the awards ceremony, Reva joined the celebrations via FaceTime from Canada, alongside fellow nominees Omar El Akkad and Morgan Talty. They participated in a panel discussion about their writing processes and experiences, highlighting the global reach of the Gordon Burn Prize. Reva commented, “Endling is about many things, but at its core, it reckons with the place of fiction in today’s world,” emphasizing the relevance of literary exploration in contemporary society.

McDermid praised the breadth of submissions for the 2026 Gordon Burn Prize, noting the joy of discovering both new and familiar authors. “Our winner is one that I believe Gordon himself would have enjoyed,” she added, reflecting on the impact of Gordon Burn’s legacy in fostering innovative literature.

Established in 2012 by New Writing North, Faber & Faber, and the Gordon Burn Trust, the prize aims to celebrate bold literary voices. In 2023, Newcastle University joined as a sponsor, further solidifying the award’s significance in the literary community. Claire Malcolm, Chief Executive of New Writing North, remarked on Burn’s literary contributions, stating, “His work was known for pushing language and form in new ways.”

Reva, expressing her gratitude, remarked, “Winning this award is a really huge honour. I believe that fiction is aching to find a new container, and a prize like this one supports and celebrates that mad search.” She extended her thanks to Virago Press and her editor, Sarah Savitt, for their belief in her work.

The evening celebrated not only Reva’s achievement but also the broader literary ambitions of Newcastle, which is increasingly becoming a hub for writers and readers alike. Malcolm highlighted the significance of upcoming projects like the new Writing Centre, aimed at fostering a culture of literacy and creativity in the region. “We want to champion writers that challenge and provoke and create a safe space for stories to be told,” she stated.

As the North East grapples with some of the lowest literacy rates in the country, initiatives like New Writing North’s Right to Read program are essential. The new centre will work to inspire young generations and cultivate future literary talents, ensuring that voices like Maria Reva’s continue to emerge and resonate.

Congratulations to Maria Reva on this well-deserved recognition, and her story inspires many in the literary community as Newcastle positions itself at the forefront of literary development.