Bernardine Evaristo

Explorations of the African diaspora across poetry, verse fiction, short stories, and novels have defined a major movement in contemporary British literature. Bernardine Evaristo made history when her eighth novel, Girl, Woman, Other, jointly won the Booker Prize in 2019, making her the first Black woman and Black British person to receive the award.

Career & Background

Born in London to an Anglo-Nigerian family, Evaristo earned a PhD in creative writing from Goldsmiths, University of London. Over a multi-decade career, she has written across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, journalism, essays, literary criticism, and radio scripts for the BBC. Made an MBE in 2009 for her services to literature, she serves as Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University of London and Visiting Professor of Creative Media at the University of Oxford for 2025/6. She has also served in leadership roles for the Royal Society of Literature as Vice Chair and President.

Alongside her writing and academic positions, Evaristo has operated as an active advocate for inclusion in publishing. She co-founded the Spread the Word writer development agency in 1995, which remains active today. She established The Complete Works mentoring scheme for poets of colour, which ran from 2007 to 2017, and created the Brunel International African Poetry Prize in 2012 to support emerging poets from Africa and its diaspora.

Writing Style & Themes

Evaristo's body of work engages with aspects of the African diaspora, bridging past, present, real, and imagined histories. Her writing frequently blends verse and prose formats, employing fluid narrative structures and polyphonic perspectives to explore complex identities, race, gender, and social history.

Major Works

• Girl, Woman, Other — Published in 2019, this novel traces the interconnected lives of twelve primary characters, mostly Black British women, across generations and backgrounds. It won the Booker Prize in 2019 alongside two British Book Awards and reached the top of the UK paperback fiction chart.
• Manifesto: On Never Giving Up — Published in 2021, this non-fiction memoir outlines Evaristo's creative journey, heritage, activist initiatives, and decades of work in contemporary British literature.
• Soul Tourists — Published in 2005, this novel blends prose and poetry during a European road trip that uncovers forgotten Black historical figures.
• The Emperor's Babe — Published in 2001, this verse novel set in Roman London follows a young Sudanese woman navigating art, relationships, and societal structures.
• LARA — Published in 1996 and winner of the EMMA Best Book Award, this biographical verse novel explores mixed-race ancestry spanning Britain, Nigeria, Ireland, and Germany.