News
Two new judges announced for Walter Scott Prize 2025
5th December, 2024
The Chair of Judges for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is delighted to announce the arrival of two new judges to its 2025 Prize panel, following the stepping down of long-standing judge Kirsty Wark after 12 years, and the death of the Duchess of Buccleuch in 2023. Rosi Byard-Jones (L above) was one… Read More »
Kevin Jared Hosein wins 2024 Walter Scott Prize for ‘many-layered tale’ of 1940s colonial Trinidad
13th June, 2024
The Caribbean writer Kevin Jared Hosein has won the 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction for his novel Hungry Ghosts, which tells the story of marginalised Hindu communities in Trinidad during the 1940s when, in the words of the author, ‘British colonial rule was loosening’ and ‘Trinidad was starting to be reborn’. The judging… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Tom Crewe
11th June, 2024
In the last of our six shortlist interviews, Tom Crewe answers our questions about The New Life and how he wrote it. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? I’m delighted. I don’t consider myself a historical novelist, since the… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Tan Twan Eng
11th June, 2024
Shortlisted author and previous Scott Prize winner Tan Twan Eng tells us more about The House of Doors. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? It’s heart-warming, but it’s also tense and exciting! It’s an immense honour: the prize is… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Kai Thomas
5th June, 2024
In the fourth of our shortlisted author interviews, Kai Thomas tells us more about his book In The Upper Country. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? My novel being shortlisted for this prize triggers waves of elation, disbelief, and… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Kevin Jared Hosein
31st May, 2024
Trinidadian author Kevin Jared Hosein talks to us about Hungry Ghosts. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? Truly a privilege to be shortlisted and to have Trinidad and Tobago be represented on such an impressive stage. Moreover, I feel… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Joseph O’Connor
30th May, 2024
Shortlisted author Joseph O’Connor tells us more about My Father’s House. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? I’ve become one. My early novels and short stories were contemporary, and I’ve been a columnist for radio and newspapers, which involves… Read More »
Shortlist interview: Rose Tremain
29th May, 2024
In the first of six interviews with this year’s shortlisted authors, Dame Rose Tremain answers our questions about her book Absolutely and Forever. How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction? Do you consider yourself an historical novelist? This has happened once before in 2012. I was thrilled… Read More »
Shortlist for 2024 Prize announced!
1st May, 2024
The judges have announced the shortlist for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. The six books going forward for the £25,000 award are: THE NEW LIFE by Tom Crewe (Chatto & Windus) HUNGRY GHOSTS by Kevin Jared Hosein (Bloomsbury) MY FATHER’S HOUSE by Joseph O’Connor (Harvill Secker) IN THE UPPER COUNTRY by Kai… Read More »
2024 Longlist announced as Prize ‘comes home’ to Abbotsford
22nd February, 2024
The 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction Longlist is announced, alongside timely news of a change of management to The Abbotsford Trust. The twelve novels in contention for the £25,000 prize are: THE NEW LIFE Tom Crewe (Chatto & Windus) A BETTER PLACE Stephen Daisley (Text Publishing) HUNGRY GHOSTS Kevin Jared Hosein (Bloomsbury) FOR THY… Read More »