Memorial University alumnus and former writer-in-residence Michael Crummey has been shortlisted for the world’s biggest literary prize.

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is worth €100,000 and is managed by Dublin City Libraries, on behalf of Dublin City Council.

It is sponsored by IMPAC, an international management productivity company with its European headquarters in Dublin.

Mr. Crummey is nominated for his 2009 novel Galore and is the only Canadian on the 10-person shortlist.

When asked for his response to being shortlisted, Mr. Crummey confesses to being “kind of overwhelmed by it … it’s pretty heady company to be keeping.”

The IMPAC award is presented annually with the objective of promoting excellence in world literature. It is open to novels written in any language and by authors of any nationality, provided the work has been published in English or English translation in the specified time period as outlined in the rules and conditions for the year. Nominations are submitted by library systems in major cities throughout the world.

Recent previous winners of the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award include 
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker (2010) Man Gone Down by Michael Thomas (2009), De Niro’s Game by Rawi Hage (2008) and Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (2007).

The winner of the award will be announced on June 15 at a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland.