Book Prize takes Dundee name across the world

Dundee International Book Prize is big 'down under ' with more than 20% of its 133 entries this year coming from Australia.

"We are delighted to have found such a surge of interest internationally including a large contingent of entries from the other side of the world," said the University's Carol Pope, architect of the book prize.

"News of the UK's leading prize for aspiring novelists has taken Dundee's name across the globe and it's exciting to find that Australia has clearly awakened to Dundee International Book Prize.

Seventy percent of entries to this, the fifth round of the prize, have come from outside Scotland - mostly from England (52) and Australia (27). A team of University readers is now poring over the manuscripts to identify a shortlist.

The judging panel, led by the University's Professor of Creative Writing Kirsty Gunn and writer and broadcaster Magnus Linklater will then make their decision on who should take the final prize - a cheque for £10,000 and a book contract with Polygon.

"We are enormously grateful to our reading team - many of whom have become so enthused with the prize that they have returned year after year to help with entries. With so many manuscripts to read, judging will take some months. We don't know yet if there is a Crocodile Dundee in the pile but at odds of 1:5 you could say 'it's a fair go'."