2009 Orange women's fiction prize longlist

To reach this longlist of 20 books this year's judges have read 130 novels in about three months. Of the 20 writers named on the Orange women's fiction prize longlist five are British. Nine are American writers, and include Toni Morrison for her 17th century slave trade novel A Mercy. Six of the books are first novels. The judging panel chaired by broadcaster Fi Glover, includes entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, journalist and academic Sarah Churchwell, writer Bidisha and the Guardian women's editor, Kira Cochrane. They will announce a shortlist of six next month, and the £30,000 winner will be announced in June. Full list