The prize is for unpublished short stories between 2,000 to 4,000 words in length. As well as the trophy and cash prize, ‘Blessing in Burslem’ will also be published in Prospect magazine and in the Royal Society of Literature’s Review.

On winning the prize, Lisa Blower said: “Thank you so much. I’m so chuffed! I write a lot about Stoke-on-Trent, where I’m from. I’d like to dedicate this day to Phillipa Brewster who was my agent for about 15 years, and we lost her last year. This is proof that her light still shines on me, so thank you very much. ”

This year’s judges were Tash Aw, Tania Hershman and Fiona Mozley.

Judge Tania Hershman said: “This brilliantly written short story brings in so many enormous topics so lightly: the idea of not belonging, how it is to move through the world with the colour of skin you are born in, and with the body you have grown into, and what it is to feel whole and be truly seen. A piece of writing that offers a reader more and more each time you read it, I feel privileged to have been one of those who could make sure it finds its way out into the world with all of the celebration it deserves.” 

The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize was founded by the Royal Society of Literature in 1999 to commemorate the centenary of an author widely regarded as one of the finest English short story writers of the 20th century.