This month’s book, chosen by poet Emily Berry, is the wonderfully named From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg:
This was my very favourite book as a young person, given to me by American family friends. I have re-read it numerous times as an adult and it never fails to deliver the much-needed goods of comfort and joy. It tells the story of twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid, who decides to run away from home with her brother Jamie, and selects as their destination – of course – the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where they intend to live. Claudia saves up money for their trip by skipping three weeks’ worth of hot fudge sundaes. If you can think of a better book title in all of literature, let me know.
Emily Berry’s first collection, Dear Boy, won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 2013. Her most recent collection Stranger, Baby was shortlisted for this year’s Forward Prize for Best Collection.
We congratulate all this year’s Forward Prize winners.