Priscilla Morris

Priscilla Morris
Born
Priscilla Tania Morris

1973 (age 52–53)
Cambridge, England
Education
Websitepriscillamorris.org
Priscilla Morris
EducationUniversity of East Anglia
Occupations
  • Lecturer
  • Writer
Writing career
Notable workBlack Butterflies

Priscilla Tania Morris (born 1973) is an English author and lecturer. Her debut novel Black Butterflies (2023) was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction among other accolades.

Early life and career

Morris was born in Cambridge to a mother from Sarajevo, Bosnia and an English/Cornish father. Growing up, she spent her summers in Sarajevo.

In 1993, relatives fleeing the siege of Sarajevo stayed at her family's home in London. Her father used a Times press pass to travel to Sarajevo and rescue his parents in law. Her great uncle, artist Dobrivoje Beljkašić, also fled the siege of Sarajevo.

Morris began her studies in Italian and Spanish at Cambridge University in 1993 before switching to Social Anthropology. After graduating, she worked as an English-language teacher in Barcelona and London and then as a legal journalist in Brighton. Morris returned to university to complete both a Master of Arts (MA) and a PhD in creative writing from the University of East Anglia. She lectured at University College London, City University of London and Kingston University. In 2019, she joined University College Dublin.

Writing career

Morris' debut novel Black Butterflies is set during the siege of Sarajevo and was inspired by the experiences of Morris and her family. In 2023, it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Ondaatje Prize, the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award and the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. In 2025 it was the runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for fiction. It sold 5,979 copies before the 3rd of June 2023.

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Leonard, Sue (24 August 2024). "Beginner's pluck: 'Black Butterflies' author Priscilla Morris". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Wilding, Rob (2023-03-08). "Priscilla Morris discusses art, war and Black Butterflies". Duckworth Books. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Writing about Sarajevo: Life under siege, art on fire". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  4. ↑ Gregory, Elizabeth (2023-04-26). "Women's Prize for Fiction: who is who on the 2023 shortlist?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  5. ↑ Shaffi, Sarah (2023-04-26). "Three debut novels compete among Women's prize for fiction shortlist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  6. ↑ Callaghan, Morgan (2023-04-27). "RSL Ondaatje Prize 2023 Shortlist". Royal Society of Literature. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  7. ↑ "Shortlist announced for Authors' Club Best First Novel Award 2023". The Authors' Club Since 1891. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  8. ↑ Brown, Lauren (4 June 2023). "Morris and Crewe shortlisted for £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "2025 Awards – Dayton Literary Peace Prize". Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  10. ↑ Creamer, Ella (2023-06-13). "Maggie O'Farrell leads sales ahead of Women's prize for fiction announcement". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-26.