Barbara Kingsolver’s winning book in the fiction prize, Demon Copperhead, published by Faber, is a poignant novel set in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.

By transposing Dickens’ David Copperfield to contemporary times, it tells the story of the struggles and triumphs of a young boy born into poverty as he navigates foster care, labour exploitation, addiction, love and loss.

Best-selling novelist Barbara Kingsolver, who lives in the Appalachia area of the United States, is the author of several acclaimed books and works of poetry. Demon Copperhead is her 10th novel.

In this video hear from fiction Judge Dr Benjamin Bateman on what made the book stand out for literary scholars.

Read more about The James Tait Black Prizes: https://www.ed.ac.uk/events/james-tai...