The London Library is proud to announce the publication of the fourth annual volume of From the Silence of the Stacks, New Voices Rise, an anthology of work from the 2022-23 cohort of The London Library’s Emerging Writers Programme.

A digital version of the anthology is available now on The London Library website, and a hard copy is available to buy through the online shop. All proceeds go towards supporting the Emerging Writers Programme.

Each volume of New Voices Rise showcases an exciting array of bright new talent, featuring contributions spanning prose to poetry, non-fiction to graphic novels, and stage to screen. The fourth volume will be no different, incorporating 16 works of (adult) fiction, 13 poems, six works of non-fiction, five works for screen and four for stage.

Extracts included in the fourth volume take readers across time and all over the world: from Montana to Goa to rural Australia; 12th century York to 18th century Italy to Troubles-era Belfast. They tour imagined worlds, the ancient past, and dystopian futures, and explore themes of storytelling and protest, neurology and cryogenics, motherhood, childhood and adolescence, music and art, sexuality and gender, immigration, representation and identity.

Contributors to the fourth volume include graphic biographer and memoirist Miriam Gold, whose book will be published by Jonathan Cape in 2024, VS Pritchett Prize winning short story writer Leeor Ohayon, children's writer Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, whose verse novel is forthcoming from Faber, and rising playwriting star and Mustapha Matura Award shortlistee Temi Majekodunmi.

The contributors were originally selected for the Programme from a field of almost 950 applicants by a panel of judges comprising YA novelist and essayist Yassmin Abdel-Magied (Chair), non-fiction writer Simon Garfield, playwright and novelist Nell Leyshon, poet Rachel Long, screen and children's writer John McNally and literary agent Eli Keren.

The London Library’s Emerging Writers Programme is a year-long programme, geared towards supporting writers who have not yet published a full-length work of fiction, non-fiction, collection of poems, or had a full-length work professionally produced for stage/screen. Participants benefit from one year’s free membership of The London Library alongside a programme of writing development and networking opportunities, peer support, and guidance. Membership to The London Library includes: access to its collection of around one million books and periodicals (almost all of which can be borrowed), a vast eLibrary, atmospheric workspaces in a beautiful building, a members suite, free nationwide postal loans, and discounted tickets to the Library’s popular public events programme. The annual Emerging Writers Anthology celebrates each member of the Programme by showcasing extracts from projects they worked on and completed throughout the year.

Previous members of The London Library Emerging Writers Programme have gone on to achieve considerable success. Including writers Abi Daré, Amber Medland, Daniel Marc Janes, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Lianne Dillsworth, Isabelle Baafi, Russell Franklin, Krystle Zara Appiah, Carole Hailey, Marina Gerner, Gaar Adams, Paolo Chianta, Oakley Flanagan, Ella Baron and Natalie Linh Bolderston.

Claire Berliner, Head of Programming says: ‘This year’s anthology is rich and diverse, full of clever, funny, experimental and beautiful work, which offers a really exciting glimpse into the future of our literary landscape. The cohort were wonderful to work with on the Programme and I can’t wait to see what they all go on to create and do.’

Philip Marshall, Director of The London Library says: ‘Every volume of New Voices Rise offers just a brief glimpse into the cohort of bright new talent to most recently benefit from the Emerging Writers’ Programme and the Library’s extensive resources. I look forward to seeing this group of brilliant writers take the next steps in their careers and hope they will continue to return to the Library for community and inspiration.’

In total, The London Library’s Emerging Writers Programme has supported 198 previously unpublished writers. Applications for the next London Library Emerging Writers Programme will open on 10 January 2024.