Orange Prize Shortlist 2006

The shortlist for The Orange Prize was announced yesterday. Inevitably it includes the usual suspects: Ali & Zadie Smith - which reminded me that I still haven't read On Beauty.

One of Richard & Judy's Book Club 2006 choices - The History of Love by Nicole Krauss - is also on the list, although the winner - Labyrinth - was not entered as its author Kate Mosse is one of the co-founders of the Orange Prize. The other three contenders are the best-selling novelist Hilary Mantel for Beyond Black, first-timer Carrie Tiffany for Everyman's Rules For Scientific Living, and Sarah Waters with Night Watch - which is currently being serialised on BBC Radio 4's Book At Bedtime.

Newsnight's Martha Kearney is chairing the judging panel, which includes the comedienne and novelist Jenny Éclair, Claire Fox of the Institute of Ideas, columnist and novelist India Knight and children's laureate Jacqueline Wilson. The winner will be announced on June 6th.

The six books on the shortlist for the £30,000 Orange Prize are: