The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the richest prizes—and the most prestigious—for the form, and this unique anthology gathers the five stories short-listed for the 2013 version of the award. With an introduction by well-respected art critic, broadcaster, journalist, and television presenter Mariella Frostrup, this collection provides American readers with the opportunity to acquaint themselves with some of the most distinguished writers of short fiction from Britain. The five nominees for the award will be named on September 20 and the winner picked on October 8. Previous winners include Miroslav Penkov, D. W. Wilson, David Constantine, and Kate Clanchy.

Mariella Frostrup is a journalist and television presenter known primarily for her work on arts programs. She has been a contributor to the Guardian, the Mail on Sunday, and the Observer. She is also an art critic and has been on the judging panels for the Man Booker Prize, the Orange Prize for Fiction, and the Evening Standard British Film Awards. Currently she presents a weekly television show on Sky Arts 1 called The Book Show.