The Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize marks twenty years of celebrating young writers this year as the 2025 award is won by Palestinian author Yasmin Zaher for her debut novel The Coin
Palestinian author Yasmin Zaher has been crowned the winner of the world-renowned Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize for her debut novel, The Coin, as the literary award celebrates two decades of recognising outstanding young talent.
The Coin, lauded by judges for its incisive examination of themes such as identity and heritage, emerged to unanimous praise from the judging panel, who were tasked with the arduous job of narrowing down a remarkable longlist to a single accolade-deserving work.
Namita Gokhale, Chair of Judges, celebrated Yasmin Zaher’s accomplishment, saying: “Whittling our exceptional longlist of twelve down to six brilliant books, and then again to just one, was not an easy exercise – yet the judging panel was unanimous in their decision to name debut novelist Yasmin Zaher as the winner of the 2025 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize.”
She continued: “Zaher brings complexity and intensity to the page through her elegantly concise writing: The Coin is a borderless novel, tackling trauma and grief with bold and poetic moments of quirkiness and humour.”
“It fizzes with electric energy. Yasmin Zaher is an extraordinary winner to mark twenty years of this vital prize,” Gokhale added.
Yasmin Zaher has been honoured with the £20,000 prize, a recognition of outstanding literary talent under 39, at an event in Swansea on Thursday 15 May. Her book, The Coin, released in paperback on 1 May 2025, is brought to readers by Footnote Press, a publisher dedicated to giving voice to marginalised narratives and viewpoints.
The award pays tribute to Dylan Thomas, the Swansea-born writer, and his 39 years of creative output. It honours Thomas’ legacy by supporting contemporary writers, fostering emerging talents, and applauding global literary brilliance across various forms such as poetry, novels, short stories, and drama.
Other works that made it to the 2025 Prize shortlist include Rapture’s Road by Seán Hewitt, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden, I Will Crash by Rebecca Watson, and Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good by Eley Williams.
The 2025 Prize was judged by a panel of esteemed literary figures, including Namita Gokhale, the multi-award-winning Indian author of over twenty-five works of fiction and non-fiction, and co-director of the renowned Jaipur Literature Festival.
Yasmin Zaher now joins an impressive roster of writers who have previously won this prestigious prize, including Caleb Azumah Nelson, Arinze Ifeakandu, Patricia Lockwood, Max Porter, Raven Leilani, Bryan Washington, Maggie Shipstead, Guy Gunaratne, and Kayo Chingonyi.