Lara Haworth
Lara Haworth | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lara Claire Haworth 1983 (age 42–43) Brussels, Belgium |
| Alma mater | |
| Partner | Annie Frost Nicholson |
| Website | www |
Lara Claire Haworth (born 1983) is an English writer and artist. Her debut novel Monumenta, commended for the Bridport Prize as a short story, was shortlisted for the McKitterick Prize and a Nero Book Award.
Early life
Haworth was born in Brussels[1] and grew up in South London.[2] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and Drama from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2006. She completed a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the University of British Columbia in 2010.[3][4] Later in 2018, Haworth enrolled in the Novel Studio at City, University of London.[5]
Career
Haworth began her career as an artist. Haworth's poem "The Thames Barrier" was commended for the Norfolk Prize at the 2021 Café Writers Poetry Competition.[6] Her extract-turned-short story "Monumenta" was highly commended in the Short Story category at the 2022 Bridport Prize.[7]
In 2023,[8] Canongate Books acquired the rights to publish Haworth's debut novel Monumenta in 2024.[9][10] The novel deals with historical memory in contemporary Serbia, following widow Olga as her Dedinje house is repurposed for a massacre memorial, her adult daughter Hilde and son Danilo, and three architects.[1][11] The setting was inspired by Haworth's Serbian friend, whose grandmother's house was sold in 2019, reminding Haworth of her own grandparents' house.[2] Monumenta was shortlisted for a 2024 Nero Book Award in the Debut Fiction category[12] and the Society of Authors' 2025 McKitterick Prize. [13]
Personal life
Haworth lives in Nunhead, South London with her partner, the artist Annie Frost Nicholson.[14][15]
Bibliography
Novels
- Monumenta (2024)
Shorts and essays
- "The Public Time of Private Space in Dior by Dior" with Ilya Parkins in Biography (2012)
- "Decolonial Imaginaries" in Theorizing Visual Studies (2012), edited by James Elkins
- "Garden" in Eco Art Incubator (2019)
- The World from my Window (2020)
- "Patrick and Ushi's Loft"
- "Old London"
- "Notes from a Supermarket" in Feels (2021)
- "Mistakes are Pure Colour" in Extra Extra (2022)
- "Monumenta" (2022)
Select poetry
- "Long Way" in Visual Verse: An Anthology of Art and Words (2016)
- "Vulcan" in Visual Verse: An Anthology of Art and Words (2018)
- "Haida Gwaii, 2086" in NōD (2018)
- "Androlikou, Akamas" in Eco Art Incubator (2019)
- "Driving Theory" in Visual Verse: An Anthology of Art and Words (2020)
- Collaboration with Fandangoe Kid
- "Reclaim Your Heart" (2021)
- "Love as an Act of Resistance" (2021)
- "Protect Your Energy" (2021)
- "Baggage is Only Experience" (2021)
- "Little Green" (2021)
- "The Thames Barrier" (2021)
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Café Writers Poetry Competition | Norfolk Prize | "The Thames Barrier" | Commended | [6] |
| 2022 | Bridport Prize | Short Story | "Monumenta" | Commended | [7] |
| 2024 | Nero Book Awards | Debut Fiction | Monumenta | Shortlisted | [12] |
| 2025 | McKitterick Prize | Shortlisted | [13] | ||
References
- ^ a b Popescu, Lucy (30 June 2024). "Monumenta by Lara Haworth review – Serbian house of horrors". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ a b Bedford, Joe (18 August 2025). "INTERVIEW: Lara Haworth on memorials, multiple perspectives and 'Monumenta'". Writers on Research. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Short Story Writing Short Course". City St George's, University of London. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Alumni Profile: Lara Haworth". University of British Columbia. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Interview with Lara Haworth, author of debut novel Monumenta". City St George's Short Courses. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ a b "2021 Winners". Café Writers. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ a b "2022". Bridport Prize. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Spanoudi, Melina (17 April 2023). "Canongate scoops Haworth's debut novel about 'memory, politics, remembrance'". The Bookseller. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ "Monumenta by Lara Haworth - read an extract". RTÉ. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Feay, Suzi (22 July 2024). "The best new debut novels — from a super-luxe, high-altitude mystery to vivid lives in London". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ Connelly, Charlie. "Plinths of darkness: Three architects pitch monuments to massacres in Lara Haworth's debut novel about who gets to write history". The New European. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Lara Haworth - Monumenta". Nero Book Awards. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ a b Snow, Maia (21 May 2025). "Matt Haig and David Nicholls shortlisted for Society of Authors' Awards 2025". The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Burroughs, Katrina (10 January 2025). "'This home is what I needed after losing my family'". The Times. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Curated by… Annie Frost Nicholson & Lara Haworth". The Standard. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.