Bettany Hughes joins Calder on Orange Prize

The Bookseller - 15.12.10 - Katie Allen

Historian and author Bettany Hughes is to chair the judging panel for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Hughes will be joined by founder-director of Bloomsbury and Full Circle Editions, Liz Calder, novelist Tracy Chevalier, actress, comedian and writer Helen Lederer and journalist and broadcaster Susanna Reid.

Hughes said: "I am always amazed by the worlds—mental, physical and intellectual—that new works of fiction can open up and am already revelling in the pleasure of reading the range of writing submitted to this years Orange Prize for Fiction."

"Looking back over the narrative of women in world civilisation over the last 5,000 years, and the struggle they have had to hold centre stage, there's no doubt that the Orange Prize adds hugely to that story."

The shortlist for the prize will be revealed on 12th April, with the winner of the £30,000 prize and "Bessie" figurine announced on 8th June.