American author Tayari Jones' 'An American Marriage' wins Women's Prize for Fiction

American author Tayari Jones has won the Women's Prize for Fiction for her book, "An American Marriage".

The book, which portraits a young African American's wrongful conviction and how it affects his marriage, has beaten two former Booker prize winners to take home "one of the biggest international celebrations of women's creativity".

Last year's Booker prize winner "Milkman" by Anna Burns and former Booker winner Pat Barker's new novel, "The Silence of the Girls", were also shortlisted for the women's award.

"This is an exquisitely intimate portrait of a marriage shattered by racial injustice. It is a story of love, loss and loyalty, the resilience of the human spirit painted on a big political canvas that shines a light on today's America. We all loved this brilliant book," Kate Williams, Chair of Judges, said on Wednesday.

The author received the 30,000 prize and the Bessie', a limited edition bronze figurine, at an awards ceremony hosted in Bedford Square Gardens by novelist and