TORONTO — Madeleine Thien wants Giller Prize organizers to remove her name, image and work from its website and promotional materials amid controversy over the literary prize.
The Montreal-based writer makes this request as the annual gala prepares to award the $100,000 prize on Monday evening.
Over the weekend, Ms. Thien published a letter on Madeleine Thien won the 2016 Giller Prize for her book, “Do Not Say We Have Nothing.”
The Giller Prize is to be announced Monday evening at a smaller event, which will not be broadcast live on television as usual.
Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted last year’s televised ceremony, which was followed by demonstrations with hundreds of people from the arts community, including authors previously recognized by the Giller Prize.
They want the foundation to cut ties with several sponsors, including Scotiabank, because of its stake in the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.
Although the Scotiabank subsidiary sold some of its shares in Elbit Systems earlier this year, the bank denied the protest had anything to do with the move.
Giller removed Scotiabank’s name from the award, saying he wants to keep the focus on the authors, not politics. His contract with the bank expires at the end of next year.
Among the five authors shortlisted this year are Anne Fleming, for her novel “Curiosities”, Anne Michaels for “Held” and Conor Kerr for “Prairie Edge”.
Depa Rajagopalan is nominated for the short story collection “Peacocks of Instagram”, as is Éric Chacour for his novel “What I Know About You”, translated from the original French “Ce que je sais de toi” by Pablo Strauss.
The pre-recorded ceremony will air at 9 p.m. on CBC.
– With information from Nicole Thompson
