Ghanaian-born writer second in C'wealth writers prize

VANCOUVER — Austin Clarke (born in Barbados) of Toronto has won the 2003 Commonwealth Writers Prize Best Book Award for the Canada and Caribbean region. An international panel of judges announced the award Monday for his novel The Polished Hoe.

The Best First Book Award went to Kwame Dawes, born in Ghana, for A Place to Hide and Other Stories. Each wins 1,000 pounds, about $2,300 Cdn. The two books now qualify for the final stage of the Commonwealth Writers Prize, which will be announced in Calgary on May 8. They join books in each category, selected by the three other international juries, covering Africa; Eurasia; and South East Asia and the South Pacific.

A prize of 10,000 pounds, about $23,000 Cdn, will be awarded to the Overall Best Book, and 3,000 pounds, about $7,000 Cdn, to the Best First Book.