Amongst the contenders for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction announced this week, is Manorbier writer Paul Griffiths.

Paul’s new novel ‘Mr. Beethoven’ has been long-listed for the Walter Scott Prize, which coincides with celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the author’s birth.

The award was created by the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, whose ancestors were closely linked to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, generally regarded as the originator of historical fiction with his novel Waverly in 1814.

Noting that Waverly’s subtitle was ’Tis Sixty Years Since’, novels to be considered must be set sixty years or more in the past.

Paul’s novel, describing Ludwig van Beethoven’s imaginary but productive trip to Boston in 1834, only invents what was historically possible, apart from the fact that in reality the composer died in 1827. Granted seven extra years, the great man is able to fulfil a commission from the Handel and Haydn Society, an amateur musical group still active today.

Last year ‘Mr. Beethoven’ was nominated for the Goldsmiths Prize, awarded to books that ‘open up new possibilities for the novel form’, and the Republic of Consciousness Prize.

The United States edition of Mr. Beethoven will be published in October by NYRB Books.

The longlist has 11 books in contention for the £25,000 and was revealed on Tuesday.

This year’s longlist includes four books from Australia, two of which are not yet published in the UK.

The judges said: “Historical fiction has not obeyed any lockdown.

“Instead, in this year’s new publishing, there has been an explosion of lively ideas and fresh ways of storytelling, with traditional notions of historical fiction stretched and tested.

“The Walter Scott Prize 2021 longlist authors, some well-established, some newer voices, challenge, charm, alarm, comfort, and electrify.

“Each book in its own way fulfils the WSP criteria of ambition, originality and innovation, with fine writing always the priority.”