The Jaguar by Sarah Holland-Batt shortlisted for the 2023 Stella Prize

Congratulations to Sarah Holland-Batt whose book The Jaguar has been shortlisted for the 2023 Stella Prize.

The Jaguar is a stunning collection that confronts what it means to be mortal in an astonishing and deeply humane portrait of a father's Parkinson's Disease, and a daughter forged by grief.

Judges' report:

The Jaguar centres on a remarkable sequence about the death of the author's father from Parkinson's Disease: tender, memorable poems that capture grief and loss and love through unforgettable imagery, often blended with humour. Throughout the collection, Sarah Holland-Batt investigates the body as a site of both pleasure and frailty, writing equally effectively about sex, romance, and ageing.

Accessible, lyrical and wise, this is a book from a poet at the height of her powers.

The 2023 Stella Prize shortlist includes novels, nonfiction, graphic memoir, and - eligible for the first time in 2022 - poetry collections. This year's judging panel comprises Alice Pung (chair), Astrid Edwards, Beejay Silcox, Jeff Sparrow, and Alison Whittaker.

The $50,000 Stella Prize is awarded annually to one outstanding book deemed to be original, excellent, and engaging.

The 2023 Stella Prize winner will be announced on Thursday 17 April.