Description
A converted Muslim is forced to wrestle with her beliefs when a refugee comes to stay in her home…
A barber in a small Sicilian village finds his business encroached upon by an outsider with a knack for eye-catching fades and mohawks…
An actress grieving the death of her boyfriend finds herself ‘betraying’ him when a new actor is cast in his role…
The stories shortlisted for the 2024 BBC National Short Story Award feature characters forced to plot a path between the past and the future, honouring previous loyalties and commitments, while striving to make their own mark or adjust to new realities. Lives become entangled, prejudices are confronted, and compassion is sought, though not always found. From a delivery rider’s defence of a bullied kitchen worker, to the Nice dog owner trying to improve the quality of life on his street, these stories explore how our interactions with new people reshape the way we see ourselves.