Bailey’s names Chimamanda Adichie’s book ‘best of the best’

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named ‘Best of the Best’ of the winners of the second decade of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

The announcement was made on Monday night at a live event in the Piccadilly Theatre, London.

The ‘Best of the Best’ was chosen from the 10 novels that have won the prize in the past decade. The chairs of the judging panels read from each of the 10 prize-winning novels before the ‘Best of the Best’ was announced.

“I have a lot of respect for the books that have won in the past ten years and also for the books that have been shortlisted – I feel I am in very good company,” Adichie said after the announcement.

“To be selected as ‘Best of the Best’ of the past decade is such an honour.  I’m very grateful and very happy.”

Half of a Yellow Sun won the Bailey’s Women’s Prize in 2007 (when it was still known as the Orange Prize).

Muriel Gray, chair of judges, said: “While it’s sometimes pompous to call a book ‘important’, it’s appropriate to say it of Half of a Yellow Sun. Chimamanda’s achievement makes Half of a Yellow Sun not just a worthy winner of this most special of prizes, but a benchmark for excellence in fiction writing.”

Syl Saller, chief marketing officer of Diageo, the Prize sponsors, added: “It is a delight to shine a light on the women who have shaped the literary landscape for the past decade. Chimamanda is an exceptional talent and a truly worthy winner of the Best of the Best accolade.”

The announcement marks the climax of celebrations to mark 20 years of the prize.

In a double win for Adichie, Half of a Yellow Sun was also the public’s choice for the “Best of the Best” award in vote hosted on the BBC website.

The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is the world’s most prestigious annual book award for fiction written by a woman. Established in 1996, it celebrates and promotes fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible.